Mangalore: Underworld threats - More businessmen complain of extortion

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Nov 28: Following the report flashed on daijiworld on Wednesday, November 27 about the alleged threat from underworld don Ravi Poojary and other gangs to city's real estate businessmen, more entrepreneurs from the city have contacted daijiworld and expressed fears of threat to their lives as they had received extortion calls from 'unknown' or unidentified numbers from abroad.

It was earlier reported that heads of real estate businesses and of educational institutions had received such calls, but now it has come to light that some of city's jewellers, posh car owners, and also luxury flat / villa owners have reportedly received threats.

It was learnt that a group of real estate businessmen met the city police commissioner a few days ago to request police protection for them and to lodge a complaint, but a real estate businessman who was part of the delegation under condition of anonymity told daijiworld that within 20 minutes of leaving the commissioner's office, he received a threat call from an underworld element saying, "Don't think you can escape from us by complaining to the police, there is no solution other than giving us the 'protection money' (hafta)."

The businessman told daijiworld that it was very shocking to get a call soon after meeting the police. Does it mean there is an informer to the underworld within the police or within the builder community?

This million dollar question can be answered only if the police swing into action and stop the nuisance faced by the entrepreneurs of the city.

But the business community says that they have tremendous faith in the current police chief of Mangalore who is capable of bringing this nuisance under control in no time.

Earlier Report: November 27

Mangalore: Underworld threat returns to haunt real estate businessmen

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Nov 27: The arrest of Nikhil Shetty, the right hand man of Ravi Poojary in March this year was believed to be a big blow to underworld don Ravi Poojary who has been unleashing a reign of terror in Mumbai and Dakshina Kannada for long. Nikhil Shetty’s arrest came soon after Ashok Devadiga, another close associate of Poojary, was detained in Dubai along with his two henchmen and it was widely believed that Poojary and his gang would lie low unable to recover from the setbacks. But on the contrary the gang has once again become active in Dakshina Kannada giving nightmares to some of the businessmen and builders of repute.

Ravi Poojary and his gang is quite active once again, as in the last fortnight the city’s leading businessmen heads of educational institutions have been getting repeated threatening and extortion calls from persons claiming to be from Ravi Poojary’s gang. It is believed that more than 50 businessmen especially from the builder community have been receiving repeated calls from Ravi Poojary gang. The matter has assumed significance because some of these people have got more than 50 to 60 calls within a period of 10 to 12 days.

It is believed that at least 10 businessmen have lodged written complaints with the Commissioner of Police in Mangalore against unknown persons. Considering that the real estate field is going through a rough patch following the slowdown of the economy, this threat has come as a setback for the city’s businessmen who fear for the worst not only for their business but also for their own lives.

A top builder on condition of anonymity says “unless the police are able to instill confidence in us and give us assurance it is not possible to carry on with our business in a normal way. When we face threat to our lives there is nothing we can do except beef up our own security and leave the rest to the police. Now we only hope that the police will be able to track down the culprits and give us a respite”.

The threat from Ravi Poojary gang is quite real, claims a top police official. Poojary’s gang was involved in the killing of Bejai Raja last year which resulted in a few retaliatory killings and attempts to murder on the lives of a few others due to the rivalry between Poojary and another don from Mangalore Vicky Shetty. But it is Poojary gang which is giving sleepless nights to top businesmen and also to the police.

It may be recalled that it was the then IGP Gopal Hosur who gave a bloody blow to the activities of the underworld by systematically cracking down their activities when there were similar threat calls to the city’s businessmen. But then it has not taken too long for the underworld dons to uncoil their tentacles to once again spread terror.

After trying his luck by unsuccessfully threatening Bollywood people like the late Yash Chopra and Boney Kapoor, Ravi Poojary has turned his attention to his home turf. When the underworld activities in Mumbai have come to a standstill it is unfortunate that they are creating a havoc in this coastal belt. One only hopes the police force wakes up to the task and takes necessary steps to instill confidence in the businessmen community which is vital for our very survival and prosperity.