Social media aided gangsters find new recruits for module on targeted killings in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: An international module on extortion and targeted killings operated by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria-Amrit Bal gang relied heavily on the social media to find new recruits — mostly young men who wanted to have money, power and limelight and those who were somewhat angry with the system, police officials probing the module and its modus operandi revealed.
On Tuesday, police had busted the module and arrested 13 of its operatives from various parts of Punjab. Following the arrests, the Khanna police claimed to have averted several targeted killings. The gang had identified 14 targets in Punjab and Haryana on the instructions of foreign-based gangsters, police had said.
IG (Ludhiana range) Dr Kaustabh Sharma said Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Amrit Bal and others engaged with young people through Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms and provided weapons and money through their handlers. He said at least three out of 13 operatives of the module had been lured by gangsters using social media.
Giving details about the modus operandi adopted by gangsters, a police officer who is part of the investigating team said “disgruntled” youths or those “impressed” by the lifestyle of gangsters and money sent messages to the gangsters on their social media accounts. He said after getting messages, the gangsters deputed handlers to ascertain the ability, if any, of such persons and contact them.
“The young men were then given tasks after arranging weapons for them. If such persons were able to fulfill tasks, they were given bigger responsibilities,” said the police source. “Though a majority of young men who join the crime world took a plunge for “fame”, money etc, some of them were drawn into the crime world as they were angry with “system”. Because of these reasons, police are continuously monitoring the social media to identify such young men and take preventive measures,” sources added.
The police officer said the preliminary probe in the recent cases revealed that Rafi and Waris Ali of Malerkotla district and Ramesh Chauhan of Deepla village in Barmer of Rajasthan might have been roped in by gangsters using the social media. He said even Mahinder Verma of Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh joined the gang through social media.
Police officials said while Mahinder Verma DK was wanted in an attempt to murder case of February 2022 registered against him in Sector 36 police station at Chandigarh after he had allegedly stabbed a manager of the hotel where he worked as a waiter, Waris Ali was wanted in a drugs related case of December 2018 registered against him at city-1 police station in Malerkotla.
Meanwhile, an NIA team visited Khanna on Friday evening to seek details on the international module from Khanna police, cops said.
Police officials said during patrolling, Khanna police had stopped a bus in which Mahinder Verma and Ramesh were travelling. They were quizzed on suspicion. During questioning, they made important disclosures about the module and also “revealed” that they were in touch with gangster Amrit Bal based in California.