Denied protection money, man on bail injures trader in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana: A convicted criminal out on bail is now accused of fracturing a scrap dealer’s arm and skull with a knife after the man refused to pay extortion money in the city’s Killa Mohalla.

Local shopkeeper Satish Kumar, 42, said Shiva Bhatti and several accomplices had stormed his business hours after he had refused their demand for hafta (protection money), having paid them ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 previously following threats.

Satish said: “Shiva threatened me over phone hours before barging into my shop with his gang.” The Division Number 4 police registered a first-information report (FIR) against Bhatti, his brother Deepak Bhatti, associate Honey, and several unidentified suspects.

Charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita include causing grievous injuries in armed attack, criminal intimidation, armed rioting, and wrongful restraint.

Sub-Inspector Jaspal Singh said the charges reflected the official civil hospital medical report. However, Satish criticised the investigation, alleging police had downplayed the assault by logging it initially under simple scuffle charges despite his fractures.

Bhatti, whose history of violent offences includes attempted murder, remains on the run, with police tracking his location.