KARACHI: Five suspected extortionists were arrested in a joint action carried out by Rangers and police personnel for demanding protection money from a trader last month in Orangi Town, officials said.

The ringleader had also remained involved in several high-profile robberies, including one of over Rs200 million looted from a firm located on I.I. Chundrigar Road in 2013, and was twice arrested but released on bail by the courts concerned, a Rangers spokesperson said.

“Rangers and police in a joint action arrested five alleged extortionists namely Rehanuddin (ringleader), M. Abid, M. Amir, M. Jibran and Sikandar in Orangi Town,” the spokesperson said.

The held suspects had demanded Rs5m as protection money from a trader, Mohammad Islam Bhashani, in Orangi Town on Oct 28 through a telephone call and threatened him with dire consequences in case of non-payment of demanded money. Next day, the suspects resorted to firing on his home in Orangi Town at night, which did not harm anybody.

Held ringleader also involved in a robbery of over Rs200m, twice imprisoned, released on bail: Rangers

Pakistan Bazaar police registered both cases of extortion call and firing against the suspects.

After getting information about the incident, both Pakistan Rangers Sindh and police prepared a joint plan and arrested Rehanuddin with his accomplices in Orangi Town.

The Rangers claimed having seized from them illegal weapons, ammunition and the mobile phone used for making the calls.

During the initial probe, the held suspects “confessed” to their involvement not only in extortion but robberies as well.

In 1999, the held suspect, Rehanuddin, with his accomplices committed a robbery at the home of international cricket player Mohammad Sami on Jahangir Road and looted gold worth Rs400,000.

In 2008, Rehanuddin and Sikandar looted Rs1.8m from the office of a clearing and forwarding company near Merewether Tower.

In 2013, Rehanuddin and his accomplices stormed the office of Mehreen Group of Companies located on I.I. Chundrigar Road and looted Rs220m, whose FIR was registered at the Mithadar police station.

Subsequently, Rehanuddin was arrested in the said robbery case in 2013 but got himself released on bail after remaining in jail for 14 months, said the Rangers official.

In 2015, Rehanuddin was again arrested on charges of murder and keeping an illegal weapon, but was released on bail after three months of imprisonment, added the official.

In 2015, the held suspect, Amir, committed a robbery at a barbershop in the Dalmia area.

In Oct 2018, the held suspects had planned to commit a robbery at a jewellery shop in Saddar but did not succeed in their plan.

Furthermore, they had also demanded Rs50,000 as extortion from the owner of Hamid Pakwan Centre in Paposh Nagar on Oct 29.

The arrested suspects were handed over to the police for further legal action.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2018