HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday sentenced two accused to seven years’ imprisonment each in a case of extortion.

The accused, Babar Larik and Yasir alias Sunny Larik, were sent to central prison after a milk seller, Ashraf Katyar, lodged an FIR against them at Bhitai Nagar police station, accusing them of demanding Rs50,000 extortion from him.

According to Mr Katyar, when he failed to fulfil their demand the accused arrived at his milk shop off Autobahn Road one day in 2015 and snatched Rs5,000, warning him to pay the protection money regularly or face the consequences.

The terrified shop owner shifted his business to Gulistan-i-Sajjad area to escape the extortionists but they tracked him down and snatched Rs10,000, forcing him to seek police help. The court further ordered the accused to pay a fine of Rs20,000 to the victim. In case of default in payment they would undergo an additional six months in jail, said the court order.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2017