GURUGRAM: After making a splash in the liquor trade, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has adopted a handbook that has helped erstwhile gangsters thrive in the city for years — extortion.
Looking to expand operations in the city, where a sustained police crackdown over the years had broken the back of organised crime, Lawrence gang members have over the past month made at least two dozen extortion calls to traders and business from Pataudi and other parts of Gurgaon, according to sources.
Most of these extortion calls, however, have remained unreported as the traders haven’t approached cops with a complaint. Only one FIR has been filed till now.
Earlier this month, the gang had allegedly made an extortion call to a liquor trader in Pataudi and orchestrated firing outside his house when he refused to pay.
Businessmen, who had heaved a sigh of relief after a vacuum had been created in the world of organised crime with the arrest of notorious gangster Kaushal, are once again worried if the next call from the Lawrence gang would land on their phones.
Money from the liquor trade and extortion has always helped gangs thrive in the city. After gangster Sandeep Gadoli was shot in an encounter and Binder Gujjar was arrested, Kaushal emerged as the next dreaded don. Between 2017 and 2019, many businessmen, jewellers and doctors had complained about calls from the Kaushal gang. Even politicians weren’t spared. Kaushal was accused of plotting the murder of Congress’s Vikas Chaudhary in 2019.
Later that year, Kaushal was arrested from Dubai. Though organised crime remained subdued for a few weeks, Kaushal’s aide, Sube Gujjar, emerged as the next feared gangster. He allegedly orchestrated a few murders and made extortion calls to businessmen before being nabbed in May last year by the special task force.
For the next year and a half, there were hardly any reports of extortion. But businessmen in the city are worried again.
“Everything was peaceful. But now that the Lawrence gang is increasingly becoming active, it is a cause for concern for us,” said a trader, requesting not to be named for fear of being arrested.
Lawrence, who is lodged in a Jodhpur jail, is believed to operate from there. He was active in Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi before deciding to expand his operations in Gurgaon. At loggerheads with Kaushal, Lawrence had allegedly killed two liquor traders in Pataudi believed to be close to his rival. His gang members had also made an extortion call to a former chairperson of the Pataudi civic body. When he refused to pay, the gang members allegedly opened fire outside his house.
A sweet shop owner and a scrap dealer received an extortion call from the Lawrance gang last week. “Extortion is the lifeline for any gang here. To operate a gang and command loyalty from its members, gangsters rely on extortion money,” said a senior police officer who has for long been associated with the investigation of cases related to gangsters.
According to him, the Lawrence gang would carry out extortions to expand his influence and bring more people under him.
But Gurgaon police is hopeful of tackling the new menace. “We have nabbed so many gangsters. Our teams have already started their work,” a police officer said.
Special cell for narcotics, organised crime
Gurgaon: Police have set up a special cell to focus on narcotics, illegal weapons and organised crimes. The cell will also keep an eye on the activities of criminal gangs and gangsters and will work on prevention of crime and speedy arrest of criminals. The team won’t be involved in routine policing work.
It was formed on April 12 with inspector Bijender Hooda as the officer first in-charge. Hooda, who has worked in the crime branch and headed different crime units of Gurgaon, has headed the successful capture of several criminals, police said. He was also part of the team involved in bringing gangster Kaushal from Dubai.
DCP (headquarts) Astha Modi said the special cell will have the mandate to work on organised crimes, gangs, gangsters, smuggling of illegal weapons and narcotics, and other similar crimes. The team will also handle big crimes as and when required. “The cell has been given 15 personnel,” the DCP said.
According to police, crimes related to supply of narcotics and illegal arms have risen in the past few years. Incidents of robbery at gunpoint have also increased. Drugs are being smuggled to Gurgaon from Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat and Rajasthan, an officer said.
