Special police unit busts gang of extortionists

Suspects would extort victims through social media apps

LAHORE:

Lahore Police arrested four members of an inter-district extortion gang. This was shared by DIG Operations Lahore Sohail Chaudhry during a press conference at Qila Gujjar Singh Police lines.

Chaudhry said that the suspects would extort victims through WhatsApp or other applications, subsequently firing at the house of the victim to instill fear in them. The gang had managed to extort Rs7 million from Dr Maqsood, a resident of Defence, last year after shooting at his house. This year, they demanded money in a similar fashion. Dr Maqsood approached the police for help.

A special team was formed to arrest the suspects said Chaudhry. Following the raid, police recovered Rs1.5 million, two motorbikes, four mobile phones, one .222 rifle, one .223 rifle, one pump-action shotgun, three pistols and ammunition from their custody.

The arrested suspects were identified as Tayyab Virk, Qaiser Virk, Zeeshan alias Shani and Farooq Mafroor. At least six other extortion cases were also registered in Chung and Sheikhupura against the gang, the DIG added.

He further said that the suspects also demanded extortion money from the Absara Society President and fired upon his house. They also harassed a private academy owner in a similar fashion and demanded extortion in Chung.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2022.