Gangster Goldy Brar’s extortion network widens in Ludhiana even as police foil hits on jeweller, bar.

Ludhiana: Police authorities have dismantled a sophisticated extortion syndicate directed by fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, narrowly averting planned attacks on a local jeweller and a restaurant.The breakthrough follows the arrest of 10 operatives linked to a cross-border smuggling ring that utilised drones to procure high-grade weaponry. Investigations revealed that after a recent shooting at a garment trader's storefront, the cell had already conducted reconnaissance on its next targets: a prominent jewelry business near Fountain Chowk and a restro-bar on Pakhowal Road.
A Network of TerrorLudhiana police have confirmed that the group is part of an inter-state organised crime racket orchestrated by Brar in collaboration with Varinder Charan of Rajasthan's Rohit Godara group. The syndicate leveraged a mix of seasoned criminals and new recruits to execute a "protection" racket across Punjab.Police seized 12 illegal firearms, including imported Zigana and Glock pistols. The sophisticated hardware was smuggled across the border via drones and distributed through nodes in Moga and Amritsar. Two inmates at Ferozepur Jail, Shubham Grover and Arshad Khan, allegedly acted as recruitment handlers, coordinating with Brar to supply local youth for field operations.The Civil City PrecursorThe investigation gained momentum following a targeted shooting at the shop of Himanshu Handa, a garment trader in Civil City. The gang had reportedly demanded Rs 50 lakh in extortion from Handa before opening fire upon his premises. "The interrogation of the arrested accused revealed that the jeweler and the restro-bar were next on the list," a senior police officer told The TOI. "The accused had already completed their recce. We managed to bust the racket before they could strike again."Inside the SyndicateThe police have identified a sprawling hierarchy involving both local muscle and international coordination. Those in custody incude Jatin (alias Sam), Jaspreet Singh, Shubham Grover, Jatin Kataria, Rajesh (alias Kannu), Manav, Vikaspal, Naresh Sethi, Mukul Mattu, Jatin Mattu, and Arshad Khan. Those at large include Varinder Charan (believed to be overseas), Sandeep, Vikram Kumar, and Rajan Sidhu.The seized arsenal, valued at about Rs 40 lakh, underscores the increasing militarization of gang activity in the region. Authorities noted that while some of the 10 Ludhiana youths arrested had prior criminal records, several were new entrants lured into Brar's orbit through jail-based recruitment networks.