Rishikesh Police Arrest Alleged Gang Leader Jagga, Two Associates Under Gangster Act

Police have arrested alleged gang leader Jagjit alias Jagga and two associates for their suspected involvement in organised criminal activities, including intimidation, assault, extortion and blackmail, officials said on Sunday. A fourth accused, Ravi Gupta, remains absconding, with police teams conducting raids to trace him.

Rishikesh Circle Officer Tushar Bora said Jagga, 39, Pranav alias Raghav Batra, 20, and Dipesh Kumar, 27, were arrested and booked under the Gangster Act at Rishikesh police station. All the accused are residents of Rishikesh.

According to police, Jagga has more than 10 criminal cases registered against him and allegedly attempted to establish an image of himself as the “King of Uttarakhand” to create fear and influence in the area.

Police alleged that Jagga and his associates intervened in land and family disputes, intimidating the parties and attempting to settle the matters by using their influence. The gang also allegedly blackmailed people by threatening to circulate their photographs and videos online.

Bora said the accused were also allegedly involved in forcibly entering homes, assaulting residents, abusing them and issuing death threats. Their activities had reportedly created an atmosphere of fear, with several people allegedly reluctant to approach police with complaints against them.

The arrests come days after a group led by Jagga staged a protest outside Rishikesh Kotwali police station on August 9, demanding action against two alleged extortionists known as “Ranga-Billa”.

The group had claimed that several cases had been registered against those opposing the duo, while no action was being taken against the alleged extortionists. Before the protest, banners and posters carrying two AI-generated images had appeared at several locations in Rishikesh, accusing the purported “Ranga-Billa” duo of extortion linked to construction projects.

Police are now investigating the gang’s alleged activities and links to other incidents, while efforts continue to arrest the absconding accused, Gupta.