Under threat: Extortionists attack industrial unit with mortal shell

PESHAWAR:

A mortar shell was fired at an industrial unit in Hayatabad Industrial Estate followed by firing early Sunday morning. The attackers, however, managed to escape after police arrived.

Police said unidentified men fired a mortar shell at a chipboard manufacturing industrial unit around three in the morning but the shell landed inside an adjacent unit, causing nominal damage. They then started firing till the time police reached the area.

“The attackers were forced to flee after police arrived and retaliated,” said a police official, adding this was the first time that an industrial unit was n attacked.

Last week, owners of the industrial unit had received a letter written in Pashto from unidentified extortionists demanding Rs150 million and threatening of dire consequences if the money was not paid.

An FIR has been registered.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2014.