Extortion tactics: CNG station attacked in Charsadda

CHARSADDA: A CNG station was attacked by unidentified men in Charsadda late Wednesday night. City police inspector Ijaz Khan said the gas station of Sayed Zafar Ali Shah on main Mardan Road was targeted by extortionists who lobbed a grenade, as a result of which the generator and coaches standing there caught fire. The guard at the station responded with retaliatory fire, forcing the attackers to flee. He also called the fire brigade which rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire. Three vehicles were burnt while the generator and other machinery were damaged. The CNG station has also been attacked in the past by unidentified extortionists after the owner refused to pay up. In another incident, unidentified men tossed a grenade at the empty residence of Tasleem Khan in Haji Zai area in the jurisdiction of Shabqadar police station. A room was damaged in the ensuing explosion. Police have registered an FIR and started investigation. On Wednesday morning, a schoolteacher and her brother were travelling on Mardan Road when they were shot  at by gunmen. The teacher told the police she had been receiving extortion threats from unidentified persons.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2014.