The Bidhannagar Police have arrested 15 people in connection with various extortion cases between Monday and Thursday. On Thursday, police arrested two such accused from Baguiati area.
Rafique Gaji and Ismail Gaji, residents of New Town’s Atghora, are accused of threatening and extortions in Bidhanagar. The Bidhannagar police earlier arrested 13 persons on charges of extortion. With Thursday’s arrest, the total has gone up to 15.
Police have learnt that most of the accused had threatened several developers and traders in Baguiati, Rajarhat-New Town and Bidhannagar and demanded money from them. The accused are being interrogated by police and could reveal information about several extortion rackets operating in the aforementioned areas as the police suspect.
Meanwhile, several members of Jagadish sporting club who allegedly demanded extortion money from a developer in Rajarhat a few days ago were arrested. Police said the Babu Sil, the secretary of the club, was among the prime accused. Some members of the club, situated near apartments in Rajarhat’s Sourav Ganguly Avenue, are still at large.
Another extortionist, Romesh Mondal, was arrested from Salt Lake’s Sector V a few days ago. Two others, Arif Ali and Naushad Ali, were apprehended on Monaday in a separate case. Gaya Manoj, a local extortionist, was booked on Tuesday evening with a fire arms from Lake Town.
It is to be remembered that Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor, Anindya Chatterjee was arrested on charges of extortion as he had allegedly demanded Rs 12,000 lakh from a businessman. The businessman had later complaint the matter with police.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given a strong message to the police to take stringent action against extortionists operating in Rajarhat.