NEW DELHI — Officers shot dead four gangsters attempting to kidnap Bollywood star Manisha Koirala in Bombay, police reported Wednesday.
The authorities, acting on a tip, trapped the four as they drove to Koirala’s home. A spokesman said they were linked to Abu Salem, who allegedly operates an underworld network in India from a base in the United Arab Emirates.
The gang has been accused of trying to extort money from Bollywood film stars and producers. The popular Koirala, who is featured frequently in India’s celebrity magazines, has acted in movies including the romance “1942: A Love Story” and “Bombay,” a saga of 1993 communal riots in India’s commercial hub.
Extortion steps up
Police said earlier this week that after a lull, gangsters had again begun attempts to extort money out of Bollywood personalities, including thesps Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and his producer-director father, Rakesh Roshan.
Last week at his north Bombay office, film producer-director Lawrence D’Souza was shot at after he did not respond to extortion threats. He escaped unhurt, and police believe the shots were merely fired to frighten him.
