Katihar, December 21st 2024, Jaiprakash Bhagat: The Salmari police in Katihar district have arrested seven members of a gang involved in extorting money from businessmen and shopkeepers. The arrests came after a rice mill owner received a demand for ₹50 lakh in extortion, along with death threats, over the phone.
Incident Details
On the morning of December 18th, 2024, the owner of a rice unit under Salmari police station was threatened by a call from Shankar Yadav, demanding ₹50 lakh. He warned of dire consequences if the amount was not paid. Following the incident, an FIR was lodged under Salmari Police Station Case Number 102/24, dated December 19, 2024, under Sections 308 (5)/111 (1) of the Indian Penal Code.
Considering the gravity of the case, the Superintendent of Police, Katihar, formed a special raid team led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Barsoi. The team was instructed to promptly identify the culprits and ensure the successful resolution of the case.
Raids and Arrests
The special team, employing technical investigations and intelligence gathering, identified the culprits and tracked their movements. Acting on a tip-off, the team learned that the main accused, Shankar Yadav, was hiding in Chhogaria village with his associates.
Police swiftly surrounded Shankar Yadav’s residence. On seeing the police, some suspects attempted to flee but were chased and apprehended. Upon interrogation, the arrested individuals disclosed their identities as:
- Mukesh Kumar Singh, son of Pradeep Singh, Salmari
- Sone Lal Sahni, son of Budhan Sahni, Salmari
- Guddu Kumar Singh, son of Jayprakash Singh, Pindhal
- Rahul Kumar Singh, son of Virendra Singh, Ladkaniya Tola
- Santosh Chaudhary alias Tarzan, son of Jitendra Chaudhary, Bariarpur, Munger
- Chunna Kumar, son of Late Jagat Mandal, Bariarpur, Munger
- Dilkhush Kumar, son of Chandra Prasad Yadav, Srinagar, Begusarai
Shankar Yadav’s Network
During interrogation, Santosh Chaudhary revealed that Shankar Yadav is the mastermind of the gang. In 2021, Shankar was involved in the murder of Nirmal Bhuwana, for which he served jail time. After being released, he resumed extortion activities.
Shankar would call traders and shopkeepers to demand money, threatening them with dire consequences. After making the calls, he would switch off his phone. His accomplices would then collect the extorted money from the victims, who complied out of fear.
Items Recovered
The police seized several items during the arrests, including:
- 9 mobile phones
- 2 four-wheelers
- 1 laptop
- 3 land-related documents
- 5 stamp papers (used for property registration)
- 2 bank passbooks
- 1 checkbook (in the name of Shankar Yadav’s father)
- 1 motorcycle
Criminal Records of the Accused
Several arrested individuals have a history of criminal activities:
- Sone Lal Sahni:
- Azamnagar (Salmari) Case Number 66/21, dated April 4, 2021, under Section 302/120B IPC & Arms Act 27
- Santosh Chaudhary alias Tarzan:
- Multiple cases under murder, Arms Act, and robbery across Munger, Purnia, and Bhagalpur districts, including:
- Azamnagar Case 66/21 (murder)
- Balia Case 111/15 (attempt to murder)
Investigations are ongoing to uncover the criminal history of other arrested individuals.
Police Statement
The Katihar police have termed the operation a significant success. Superintendent of Police (Vaibhav Sharma) emphasized that the arrests dismantled an active extortion network that was terrorizing traders in the region. The primary accused, Shankar Yadav, had been orchestrating operations to instill fear and extort money.
Impact on the Community
This case highlights the boldness of criminal networks in the district, which had created a sense of fear among local traders. With the arrests, the police have restored a sense of security and sent a clear message about their commitment to cracking down on illegal activities.
Further investigations are underway to identify other members of the network and their links. Katihar police have reassured the public that efforts are being intensified to curb crime in the region.
