Man tortured by ‘extortionists’

10 suspects filmed assault and uploaded it on social media platforms

DIJKOT:

A motorcycle mechanic was allegedly physically assaulted over refusal to pay extortion to 10 suspects in Dijkot on Tuesday.

Reportedly, the suspects also damaged the motorcycle of the victim and filmed the incident after which they uploaded it on social media platforms.

Police registered a case against the alleged extortionists and arrested three of the suspects.

Police said Mirza Muhammad Qurban, a resident of Chakki Chowk, Saifabad, Nishatabad Street No 5, had set up a motorcycle repair shop at 30 Fata Bazaar, Usman Park.

The suspects identified as Asad, Hasnain, Hamad, Noman alias Mana and Hasnain alias Hina used to demand extortion from the victim which he did not give and complained.

On which, the suspects intercepted Qurban when he was going after closing his shop. They damaged his motorcycle and tied the victim’s hands behind his back with a cloth, taking Rs16,000 cash out of his pocket. The alleged extortionists also physically assaulted him.

After filming and making the video, the suspect Hammad uploaded the video on social media platforms after which it went viral.

Reportedly, Millat Town police first sent the victim to the cybercrime office instead of registering a case. After the video went viral on social media platforms, SSP Operation Muhammad Afzal took notice of the incident and ordered Millat Town SHO Sub Inspector Abid Hussain to register a case against the suspects and arrest them.

A police team arrested three of the suspects including Hammad.

Incidents of extortion are not uncommon in the province.

On April 10 last year, police arrested two men for extortion on the complaint of an industrialist in Baghbanpura area of Lahore.

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The complainant told the police that an unidentified suspect had asked for his phone number, saying that a man named Kashif Butt wanted it. After a while, he received a call.

The caller told him that his factory was built on the land of another party that had asked for over Rs5 million. He went to Butt’s place and paid him Rs50,000. He allegedly abused him and asked him to bring more money. Police arrested the men and recovered illegal weapons and cash.

On May 19, 2019, members of Lahore’s Dolphin Squad allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper after he refused to entertain an extortion demand from the law enforcers.

A short clip from a CCTV camera showed two personnel from the squad grabbing the shopkeeper’s arm and trying to pull him over the counter. They can also be seen repeatedly hitting the individual with their batons.

Reportedly, the victim had earlier refused to pay the bribe these men had asked for.

On May 16, 2019, a property dealer in Green Town had alleged that unidentified suspects from tribal areas were threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to pay extortion. The victim told police that the suspects contacted him via mobile messaging application Whatsapp a few months prior to his complaint.

The suspects also forbade the victim from approaching law enforcement agencies.

However, despite extorting Rs28 million, the suspects were demanding an additional Rs20 million, claimed the victim.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2021.