Ludhiana, July 13 -- Jagraon police have arrested two alleged associates of a Bahrain-based gangster for allegedly attempting to extort Rs.5 lakh from a local jeweller through threatening WhatsApp calls and a UPI payment link, officials said.

The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh, a resident of Chadik village, and Bittu Brar, a resident of Kotla Mehar village, both in Moga district.

According to the complaint lodged by jeweller Chirag Katyal, he began receiving threatening WhatsApp calls from an international number shortly after his father fell seriously ill in June. The caller allegedly demanded Rs.5 lakh and threatened to kill him and his family if the money was not paid.

Police said the caller continued issuing threats...