LARKANA: Unide-ntified armed men fired at the house of a landlord in Panjodero village near Naudero at midnight and dropped a chit demanding the master of the house pay them Rs700,000 protection money if he and his family wanted to remain safe.

The landlord, Noorullah Larik, told journalists on Thursday that the bullets pierced through the main gate but luckily all inmates remained safe as they were sleeping in their rooms at that time.

“We do not have enmity with anyone,” he said and disclosed that he had purchased a piece of agricultural land from some members of Korai clan near Rice Canal a few months back but the land was encroached upon by locals soon after he cut the deal.

Since then one Mohammad Bachal Korai had been issuing him death threats on his cell phone number although the encroachment issue had been resolved amicably through negotiations, he said.

He said that he had complained to Naudero police at that time about the threatening calls but police did nothing. Police inaction had so emboldened the criminals that they had now reached their doorsteps, openly firing and demanding protection money, he said.

He said the chit dropped by the criminals after firing at his house threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to fulfill their demand. “We are in the jungle but have complete information about you, therefore it’s better for you to silently arrange the cash or be ready to face the consequences,” read the chit shared by Mr Larik.

He appealed to the area’s MPA, Faryal Talpur, IGP, DIG and SSP to take measures to curb criminals’ activities as they were now posing a direct threat to their lives and properties. A police picket should be established in the area, he said.

Naudero police station’s SHO Shahid Memon told journalists that he along with a police team started tracing footprints of the outlaws immediately after receiving information about the incident and found the footprints vanishing into the riverine area of Madeji. “We are after the criminals and will soon round them up,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2024