Behind bars: Alleged extortionists nabbed by police

The extortionists were collecting money from wealthy people under the guise of militants.

PESHAWAR:

Faqirabad police arrested four extortionists, a kidnapper and the alleged leader of a carjacking ring on Saturday, also recovering a stolen vehicle from their possession.

Addressing a news conference at Faqirabad police station in the evening, SP City Faisal Mukhtar said four suspected extortionists – Azizullah, Abdullah, Safir and Shafiq – were collecting money from wealthy people under the guise of militants.

He said a kidnapper, Muhammad Waheed, and car lifter Muhammad Imran were also arrested and a motor car was recovered from the possession of Imran, a resident of Abazai, Tangi. Mukhtar added it was a major breakthrough for police as cases of extortion and kidnapping had been on the rise in the city and its outskirts recently.

In a case of alleged extortion, two brothers and their cousin were kidnapped by militants from Badhaber last month. According to police, around a dozen armed militants entered their house and took them away.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2014.