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, to be chaired by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani, on February 28 at Surajkund.

The chief minister revealed that the extortionists were making their calls from Sukhrali village, Sikanderpur and Bijwasan area of Delhi. ``There is no doubt that these extortionists, who have tried to spread a wave of terror, 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. On February 8, they demonstrated that they meant business by opening fire on a prominent doctor, Sushil Oberoi, who, however, escaped the bid on his life. On February 23, in their second attack, the extortionists tried to gun down the Jain brothers, owners of M/s S.S. Jewellers. The duo suffered bullet injuries on their arms, but survived the attempt.

``Gurgaon and Faridabad are prestigious stations for the state and any untoward incident here reflects poorly on us, giving the state a bad name,'' the chief minister said.

He ordered that all jhuggis and illegal hutments adjoining sector-17 be removed immediately as these hutments are shelters for migrant labour who often commit crimes. He added that he was monitoring the crime situation in the state himself and issuing directions to the police.

Meanwhile, at a meeting between the DIG, Gurgaon Range, P. K. Mehta and the residents welfare association of sector-17 yesterday evening, it was decided that the residents would furnish details and finger prints of their servants so that the police could check their antecedents. Mehta added that the antecedents of tenants would also be verified, though in a discreet manner.