GUJRAT, Sept 3: Police claim to have nabbed the ‘psycho’ who had demanded ‘extortion money’ from 12 local pottery traders through threatening phone calls.

District Police Officer Ali Nasir Rizvi told Dawn on Tuesday that the police traced the alleged extortionist, Abid (37), a resident of Gulliana, Kharian tehsil who turned out to be a psycho.

He said after conducting thorough investigations it was revealed that Abid had been under treatment for his mental condition.

The DPO said the accused was a habitual hoaxer who had been making threatening calls to some local traders, besides many other businessmen in various districts of Punjab.

The accused had recently demanded Rs0.5 million each from 12 pottery traders of Gujrat.

Mr Rizvi said as many as 31 mobile SIMS had also been recovered from the accused.

He said doctors had confirmed that Abid had mental problem and had been receiving treatment.

The DPO rejected the reports that an extortionist network was operating in the district, saying such a gang had already been busted in Jalalpur Jattan and some of its key members were arrested. He said the gang was involved in the murder of Dr Ataur Rehman.He said the mastermind of Dr Rehman murder was a very dangerous fugitive who had also been involved in the killing of a former provincial minister belonging to Gujrat. The criminal was freed in a jail break incident a few years ago, he said, adding he was also involved in a dozen other murders.

He said the police had also arrested the outlaws who had been hurling life threats at another local doctor, Saqib Mirza, and demanding extortion money.

When asked about the extortion calls received by a woman of Kharian Cantt on her telephone, the DPO said the police had traced and arrested the accused who belonged to Sargodha district.