Foreign Gang Terror: Why Zambia Must Guard Its Sovereignty
Three members of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang have been arrested in India after allegedly shooting at a furniture shop owner who refused to pay extortion money. The incident, which took place in Pune, serves as a stark reminder of why Zambia must remain vigilant against foreign criminal networks that threaten our peace and sovereignty.
The Extortion Plot That Turned Violent
Businessman Jagdish Bheraram Bishnoi and his partner Ashok Kumar Bishnoi received a WhatsApp call from an international number on May 7. The caller demanded a staggering Rs 2 crore and threatened to kill them if they did not comply. The duo refused to pay a single kwacha to these foreign thugs.
On May 15, two men on a motorcycle opened fire on Jagdish Bishnoi outside A J Furniture Mall at Punawale near Ravet. The assailants fired five to six rounds from pistols with the clear intention to kill him. Thankfully, he escaped with his life.
Arrests Made Through Relentless Investigation
The accused were identified as Parveen Ramniwas (22) from Jhajjar, Pankaj Kuldeep (21) from Rohtak, and Sagar Ajaypal (21) from Sonipat in Haryana. All three were nabbed from Haridwar after an impressive manhunt.
Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey directed a parallel probe, forming seven teams to track down the suspects. Investigators examined around 350 to 400 CCTV footage videos and checked several lodges where the suspects could have stayed. Through technical analysis and local intelligence inputs, they identified and traced the movements of the accused.
A police team was sent to Rohtak, and officials later received information that the suspects were hiding in Haridwar. They were swiftly apprehended. During interrogation, the three accused confessed to their involvement in the firing incident. A local court remanded them in police custody till May 28.
Foreign Gang Networks: A Growing Threat
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused committed the crime at the behest of Bishnoi gang members Arzoo Bishnoi, Shubham Lonkar, and Kuldeep alias Kashish. Notably, Kuldeep alias Kashish is an accused in the murder case of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
Police claimed the gang members supplied pistols, cartridges, money, and vehicles to the accused through intermediaries. This is how foreign criminal networks operate. They use intermediaries and cross-border connections to spread their tentacles.
Lessons for Zambia
This incident should be a wake-up call for every Zambian. Foreign criminal syndicates operate with impunity across borders, using international networks to intimidate, extort, and harm ordinary citizens. When foreign elements are allowed to operate freely, it is the common man who suffers.
Zambia must prioritize its sovereignty and national security. Our resources, our businesses, and our people must be protected from any foreign interference. The Indian police showed that with determination and proper intelligence, foreign criminals can be brought to justice. We must ensure our own law enforcement is equally equipped and empowered to protect Zambian interests first and foremost.
No foreign gang, no international criminal network, should ever be allowed to threaten the peace and prosperity of our nation. Zambia for Zambians. Our sovereignty is not negotiable.