SIALKOT, Oct 9: A trader is being harassed by yet unknown but believed to be outlaws belonging to a thugs’ gang, who are demanding a protection money (jagga tax) of Rs400,000 from him on telephone and threatening him with dire consequences.

Ali Raza Cheema reported to police that some unknown callers on his mobile phone were frequently intimidating him and his family members to pay them Rs400,000 extortion money or face dire consequences.

He said the outlaws were also pressing him not to inform the police otherwise they would kill him and his children after kidnapping them.

The city police have started investigation after registering a case, but are yet clueless.

Earlier, a proclaimed offender Yasir alias Yasiru had also demanded Rs1 million from a Daska-based journalist, Ghulam Nasir Mughal. The culprit is still at large.

Citizens have expressed concern over the situation and demanded early arrest of the culprits.