Expressing concern over the extortion threats being made to the city's prominent citizens, the Chief Minister disclosed that the callers have been identified by the police and it was just a matter of time before they were arrested. Bansi Lal said, however, that the callers were using cash cards on mobile phones which made it difficult to trace them. He added that he would raise the issue of making amendments in the terms and conditions of contracts with cellular phone companies to make it mandatory for them to retain the name and address of cash card users for easy identification. The issue will be taken up at the chief ministers' conference, tobe chaired by Union Home Minister L K Advani, on February 28 at Surajkund.

The CM revealed that the extortionists were making their calls from Sukhrali village, Sikanderpur and Bijwasan area of Delhi. "There is no doubt that these extortionists will be nabbed soon. But if this gets a little delayed, the people will start feeling uneasy and scared." About a month ago, these callers, claiming to be Dawood Ibrahim's men, began calling leading businessmen, traders, jewellers and doctors, demanding money.