TAXILA: Local administration arrested three extortionists for conning public transporters at the Taxila bus station under the pretext of taxes and fees.

Ijaz Akhtar, Nazar Hussain Shah, and Naseem Haider, are said to belong to a local mafia that preys on passenger van and bus crews by charging them various illegal fees, such as a ‘halting fee’.

In response to complaints by transporters and customers, the local administration formed a taskforce and, after monitoring the group for some time, was able to catch the men red-handed.

Assistant Commissioner Shahid Imran accompanied police officials on a raid of Taxila bus station, where they caught members of the extortion racket in the act. Police also seized illegal weapons from their possession.

A case has been registered against the accused and an investigation is underway.