Cuttack: An extortion racket run by gangster Shakeel was busted and four of his gang members were arrested Wednesday here by personnel of Commissionerate Police.
“We arrested four persons. They are Pintu alias Mohammad Asif, Chiku alias Dilnawas, Munna alias Rehman and Mohammad Javed in connection with an extortion demand case under Cantonment police station,” Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pratik Singh informed.
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Police have seized a country-made pistol, a motorcycle and a mobile phone from those arrested. During investigations, the involvement of Shakeel, who is currently in jail, in the extortion case has been established, Singh said.
The owner of ‘Babu Electronics’, which is located in Buxi Bazar locality, had lodged a complaint with the Cantonment police station August 16. In the complaint he said that he was called out from his shop at 4.00pm the same day by Pintu, a known anti-social. The latter then took him to a secluded spot away from the CCTV surveillance range where Chiku was waiting. The duo handed him over a mobile phone saying that Shakeel wanted to speak.
Shakeel demanded extortion money to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 over the phone. When the shop owner said that it was impossible for him to pay the amount, Pintu brought out a pistol and threatened to shoot him.
Cantonment police have filed a case under Sections 386, 387, 120B, 506, 507, 34 of IPC including Section 25 and 27 of Arms Act. The arrested have been forwarded to a local court.
PNN