Two alleged extortionists arrested

Police say suspects demanded money from businessmen in name of TTP

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi’s Civil Lines police claimed to have arrested two suspects allegedly involved in extortion activities.

According to the police, the alleged extortionists used to write letters to businessmen, retired government officials and owners of private educational institutions demanding extortion money in the name of the Taliban.

 According to the police, the suspects were also involved in threatening the families of businessmen with serious consequences in case the extortion money was not paid on time.

The alleged extortionists used to open fire outside the houses of businessmen and other wealthy people to scare them to pay the extortion. They were also involved in threatening petrol pump owners to blow up their belongings with grenades.

The police said that the two accused were arrested with the help of modern technology. Police also claimed to have recovered weapons, a mobile phone and a motorcycle from them.

The police said that the mobile phone recovered from the accused was stolen from a citizen a few days ago. An investigation has also been launched, the police said adding that other facilitators of the accused will also be arrested.

Meanwhile, police faced stiff resistance at a wedding party in Gujar Khan after a raid over aerial firing and fireworks.

As the police raided the wedding party, armed men attacked the police party and injured a cop. The armed attackers also rescued five of their colleagues from police custody. Police registered a case against 30 unknown accused including five identified accused and started an investigation.

According to the police ASI Azmat Abbas, when participants of a wedding party resorted to heavy aerial firing and fireworks at Purana Galyana Mor, police raided the scene and arrested Raja Muhammad Ali, Raja Abdul Aziz, Raja Rashid alias Rasha, Raja Asad, Raja Muhammad Ali and Khawaja Waheed, who were all armed with SMG rifles. Meanwhile, 30 armed people reached there and attacked the police team.

He said that Raja Muhammad Ali injured constable Ehsan-ul-Haq by hitting him with the rifle butt and got the five arrested freed from their custody.

The police registered a case against Raja Abdul Aziz, Raja Muhammad Ali, Raja Rashid alias Rasha and 30 unknown accused. Police said that further investigation is under way.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2022.