Tenuous links: Old-timer extortionists brought in for questioning

Part of larger crackdown against such criminals in city

PESHAWAR: Police have not only launched a crackdown against extortionists in the city but also adopted as a “precautionary measure” interrogating those previously convicted for similar crimes but have completed their sentence.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hayatabad ASP Hassan said there were four police stations in his circle and 36 people who were previously involved in extortion at some stage in life and had been jailed by courts.

“We arrested 20 people from Hayatabad, Tatara, Sarband and Pishtakhara areas of the city.” He said these were people who had previously been convicted by courts.

Done the crime and the time

“We are interrogating them as we suspect some of them have restarted their criminal activities after their release from jails,” he said.

Hassan added once these people were arrested, they were released on personal surety. “The person who provides surety is then responsible for bringing the accused back to the police whenever and wherever required.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, Cantt SP Kashif Zulfiqar said the decision to pull back extortionists who had previously been convicted by courts was taken by IGP Nasir Khan Durrani at a high-level meeting in which all DPOs were directed to start a crackdown against extortionists in their respective districts. “The lists have been shared with every police station and officials have been asked to arrest and interrogate these individuals,” Zulfiqar said.

He added 90% culprits who were residents of settled districts have been arrested but the real challenge was to arrest those who belonged to tribal areas.

Reports have been received that individuals previously involved in such blackmail cases have links with other extortionists. Some of them have in fact restarted their old ‘profession’.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd,  2016.