Extortion is city's fate: ransom notes demand Rs2.5m

KARACHI:

Incidents of extortion have reportedly increased in New Karachi Industrial Area, where unidentified extortionists issued threatening notes to owners of sweet shops and cigarette stores, demanding a total of Rs2.5 million in protection money.

The threats have created fear and panic among shopkeepers and other traders in the area. Police registered two separate cases.

In his statement to police, shop owner Sadiq said the suspects demanded Rs1.5 million and warned him that he was being watched. The note allegedly stated that if the money was not paid, the attackers would target the shop with a petrol bomb instead of bullets.