The Tribune, January 26, 2002

Rs 2 lakh demanded as extortion money from shopkeeper
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 25
Panic prevailed when four car-borne armed miscreants arrived at a cable shop on the Old DC Road here yesterday and demanded Rs 2 lakh as extortion money from its owner. According to a report, the miscreants also threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to hand over this money to them. They immediately fled in the car. The owner of the shop informed the Civil Lines Police Station about the incident. Subsequently, the shopkeeper was given security.

It is stated that when the security guard left the place, the miscreants again arrived at the shop and threatened its owner before fleeing from the scene. At least five days back, the miscreants had given a similar threat to the owner of a petrol pump on the Sonepat-Gohana road and demanded Rs 50 lakh as extortion money from him.

The increasing activities of anti-social elements and the criminals in this city and other parts of the district have caused resentment among the traders, businessmen and industrialists in the district.