ISLAMABAD: The capital police have registered a case against two groups who allegedly sent a letter to a trader and demanded Rs5 million as extortion.

Moreover, a salesman, who confessed to his involvement in the attempted extortion, was arrested.

Mohammad Ramzan, who runs a bakery in Alipur Farash and has been residing in Thanda Pani, told Dawn that on April 13 at around 7pm he found a letter in a shopping bag in his shop.

“It looked like a paper torn from a register so I unfolded it. In the letter, there was complete information regarding me and my children. Even names of my children were mentioned to prove that senders had information about me and my family. It was mentioned that the letter was sent by Rajanpur Gang and Peshawar Group.

“It was also written that I should give Rs5 million to my salesman Ajmal Gondal and advise him to go in front of a departmental store in the area and then go to Khanna Pul through public transport and then sit in any bus leading to Lahore. It was also mentioned that a person will collect the amount from the salesman after giving him a slip of Rajanpur Gang,” he said, adding the letter warned if he did not arrange the money, his three sons would be killed.

“I informed the police after which a police team approached him. Assistant Sub-Inspector Rafaqat Hussain demanded CCTV footage and after two days they arrested the salesman. On Sunday, I got a call from Rafaqat Hussain that the salesman was involved in the plan,” he said.

“I am sure that the police will soon arrest other members of the gangs,” he added.

An official of Shahzad Town police, requesting not to be quoted, said even though the case was being investigated there was also a possibility that the salesman might have planned it to get the money from the trader.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer said Islamabad police had accelerated its efforts against criminals and arrested 433 suspects during the last two weeks; stolen items worth Rs23.2 million have also been recovered.

The SSP said 67 suspects involved in robbery, car/motorcycle theft were arrested and items worth Rs17.6 million were arrested while 45 absconders were held during the same period. Complete challans of 292 cases were sent to the courts concerned.

He said the police had launched a special campaign against drug sellers and so on. As many as 30 suspects were arrested while liquor and narcotics were recovered from their possession; 27 other suspects were held and 24 pistols, two kalashnikovs, two guns, two daggers and 127 rounds were recovered from their possession, he said, adding 264 other suspects were also arrested.

Dr Tanveer reiterated that criminals will not be spared and those involved in crime would have to face action as per law.

He has also appealed to citizens to cooperate with police in this regard.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2021