A gang of extortionists has once again become active near the Laxmanath toll gate under Jalashwar police station in Balasore district. There are frequent complaints that they are threatening and robbing money by posing as fake government officials at various times. However, there is dissatisfaction in the local area as no tangible steps are being taken by the Jalashwar police to stop this. According to information, last Saturday at around 10 pm, a truck driver named M.D. Salim from Naveengar village under Chandradeep police station in Jamui district of Bihar state was on his way to Medinipur in West Bengal from Bhadrak with a load of garbage.
At this time, five miscreants stopped his truck near the Laxmanath toll gate. They introduced themselves as ‘Sales Tax Officers’ and demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the driver. When the driver refused to pay, the miscreants became furious. They stopped the truck and threatened to kill the driver. This did not stop them; the miscreants attacked the driver Salim with a stone and also smashed the front window of the truck. They then took away all the cash the driver had. While leaving, the miscreants threatened that if anyone was told about this, they would set the truck on fire and kill the driver. Later, the driver M.D. Salim was rescued in a seriously injured condition and admitted to the local GK Bhatt Hospital for treatment. The injured driver has filed a written complaint at the Jaleswar police station regarding the incident.
