Extortion threats: School owner’s house attacked third time

SHABQADAR:

Unidentified men attacked a house in Shabqadar, Charsadda for a third time after the resident refused to pay extortion money.

Atta Muhammad, the owner of a local school, filed a case with the police stating this was the third instance in which he received phone calls from extortionists, asking him to pay Rs1.5 million. However, he did not hand over the ‘protection’ money.

Muhammad had also refused such attempts earlier after which assailants lobbed hand grenades inside his house. This time, the attackers fired a rocket at his residence, partially destroying the structure.

SHO Nasir Khan confirmed the incident. He had been informed by the complainant about the threats but the police could not provide him protection, “We are already short on resources, we cannot give security to every individual.”

Initial investigation revealed the extortionists are making their way from Mohmand Agency and often flee after committing the crime.

Muhammad said he would continue to stand firm against such threats, however, the police did not take any measures despite previous attacks. “Police can trace their (extortionists) mobile phones and arrest the culprits,” pointed out the harried man. Either the police arrest the culprits or else I will buy weapons for self-defence, maintained Muhammad.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2013.