By Markson Omagor
MBALE
A notorious gang that has consistently targeted the Indian community in Jinja has this morning 27th May 2021 burnt a shop and car belonging to Indians.
The heinous act took place at Lubas Road where a shop belonging to Jitu Bhai Patel and car belonging to Raju Bhai Hathi were set ablaze.
The thugs also left behind a note demanding Shs5 million from the Indians if they are to stop targeting and harassing them.
Early this week, this website broke a story in which the Directorate of Crime Intelligence in close coordination with the Territorial Police in Kiira Region and Bukedi South arrested two members of a gang that is targeting the Indian Community in Jinja.
The gang distributes notes demanding money by menaces from the Indian Community threatening murder; vandalizism and stealing of number plates in exchange for money.
The two suspects arrested were Owor Vicent, a 25 year-old, dealer in Airtel Simcards and resident of Agumam villages in Tororo District; and Otim Boniface, a 26 year old male adult, a supermarket employee and resident of Tororo Railway quarters, Tororo District.
The task team established that on the night of 22nd – 23rd/04/2021, the gang members, trespassed into the properties of Madvan Group of Companies, on plot 23, Bell Avenue road parking yard. They vandalised 6 motor vehicles and stole the number plates from the vehicles under registration numbers UAS 624G, UAX715E, UAW312V, UBG792P, UAF299S and UAL752L.
They left a written note behind demanding for Ugx 300k, per number plate. The notice read “When you know you have lost your vehicle number plate, call 0703-932528”
The number was established to be that of Kato Hussein a member of the gang. Again on the 19/05/2021, the gang members, attempted to prey on the Indian community in Jinja, when they issued written threats to murder a 57 year old Indian businessman, identified as HATHI DHARMENDRA, together with his family and fellow Indians, if they failed to remit money on telephone contact 0771-491993.
“We have since identified the prime suspect as Ochwo Ponsiano, of Tororo District, who was captured on CCTV camera, while pinning the written threats at the premises of the victims in Jinja City.” A police report said.
The gang members are majorly residents of Tororo District, who are highly involved in extorting money from victimized persons. They to a larger extent commit these crimes outside Tororo District to cover their tracks.
