Indian national tagged as KFR gang head falls

BALANGA CITY – Police arrested an alleged Indian religious leader tagged as the mastermind of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) syndicate operating in Central Luzon and Metro Manila that preys on Indian nationals.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, newly designated Bataan police director, said Darshan Singh, 50, alias Tony, was nabbed early yesterday morning in Quezon City by joint elements of the provincial and regional intelligence and investigation branches led by Chief Inspector Cesar Lumiwes based on an arrest warrant issued by Judge Manuel Tan of the Bataan Regional Trial Court Branch 2.

Police arrested Singh after more than nine hours of searching his two-story apartment in Barangay Manresa. They found him hiding on the rooftop.

Singh was tagged as one of the most wanted persons in Bataan for having allegedly masterminded the kidnapping of Indian nationals Raghbir Chand, Jass Kaur, Makhan Singh, Gurmolak Singh and Gurjeet Singh.

Two of his suspected cohorts, Bootah Singh and Sukhdev Raj, were arrested last Nov. 28 and are now detained at the Bataan provincial jail.

Another Indian national, Ricky Singh, a storeowner in Limay town and leader of some 100 Indian traders here, said the suspect headed the so-called “9M Gang” composed of Indian nationals and Filipinos that victimizes businessmen in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

He said the group has abducted some 20 Indian nationals with ransoms ranging from P1.5 million to P9 million.

Some of the victims reportedly failed to file charges against the group for fear of reprisal.

Members of the group are reportedly armed with caliber .45 pistols and Armalite rifles, use vehicles rented from car dealers in the cities of Manila, Angeles, Olongapo and San Fernando.

Some 50 Indian nationals from Metro Manila, five of them previous kidnap victims, trooped to Bataan and positively identified Darshan Singh as the leader of the KFR syndicate.

They lauded Gaerlan and his men for arresting Singh who they said has “brought shame to the Indian community in the country.”