Daltonganj (Jharkhand), Dec 26 (NationPress) Two individuals, believed to be affiliates of the infamous gangster Prince Khan, were apprehended in Palamu, Jharkhand, following an alleged extortion attempt that involved a ransom demand of Rs 1 crore from a gold dealer in the district's Medininagar.

The suspects purportedly threatened Ranjit Soni, proprietor of Gold House, a well-known jewellery establishment in the city, via WhatsApp voice messages impersonating Prince Khan, who is rumored to be operating from a foreign Gulf nation.

The communications included threats to take the businessman’s life if the ransom was not fulfilled.

During a press briefing, Palamu Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesh remarked that this marks the first documented instance in Medininagar involving an extortion request under Prince Khan’s name.

The victim filed a formal complaint at the local police station on December 21, leading to the registration of an FIR and the formation of a specialized investigation team headed by the Sadar SDPO.

In response to a tip-off, law enforcement executed a raid late on Thursday night, December 25, at a partially constructed municipal building near Congress Bhavan, resulting in the arrest of Mohammad Nazim and Murtaza Ansari. Both suspects reside in Pahari Mohalla within the city police jurisdiction.

Authorities seized two homemade pistols, two live cartridges, two mobile devices, an iron pipe, a jewellery shop receipt, a car, and a motorcycle from the suspects, with the vehicle registered in Nazim’s father’s name.

Investigations revealed that Nazim had purchased jewellery from the same shop approximately seven months prior, equipping him with extensive knowledge of the shop’s layout and operations.

During questioning, both suspects admitted to routinely surveilling the shop. A couple of days ago, they allegedly recorded a video of the premises and transmitted it to Prince Khan.

The SP disclosed that Rs 24,000 was transferred to Nazim’s account on December 22 to facilitate a shooting incident aimed at instilling fear. The suspects had intended to discharge firearms near the shop on Thursday but were apprehended before they could carry out their plan.

Additionally, police confirmed that Mohammad Nazim has a history of criminal activity. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover further connections within the extortion network.