SRINAGAR: Ganderbal Police said on Saturday that they have arrested two self-styled journalists involved in blackmail and extortion.
In a statement, police revealed that a team led by PSI Jameel Ahmad from PS Gund, under the supervision of SDPO Kangan Shri Muzaffar Jan-JKPS, successfully arrested two individuals posing as journalists for their involvement in blackmail and extortion within the jurisdiction of PS Gund. The two suspects have been identified as Sohail Maqbool, son of Mohd Maqbool Mir, residing in Bamiluna Kangan, and Kaiser Farooq, son of Farooq Ahmed Mir, residing in Cheerwan Kangan.
According to the police statement, the incident unfolded on September 8, 2023, when a written complaint was submitted to PS Gund by Gulzar Ahmed Kasana, son of Abdul Rehman Kasana from Surfraw Gund. The complaint detailed an encounter with two unidentified individuals posing as fake journalists who had arrived at his residence in Surfraw, demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000.
It is worth noting that the victim was in the process of constructing a residential house in Surfraw, and the two self-styled fake journalists appeared on the scene, insisting on the payment of Rs 5,000. They took Rs 500 in cash and instructed him to pay the remaining amount of Rs 4,500 within two days. Furthermore, the duo threatened the victim with the dismantling of his house if he failed to comply.
The police stated, “For several days, there had been complaints of young individuals on scooters, equipped with mobile phones and cameras, engaging in blackmail and extortion within the general area of Gund. Many complainants have approached PS and have identified the duo as responsible for blackmailing them.”
In light of these developments, a case with FIR No. 53/2023 under relevant sections of the law has been registered at PS Gund, and further investigations are underway. Ganderbal Police urged the general public not to fall victim to blackmail and similar crimes, emphasizing the importance of reporting such incidents to the police to ensure the effective apprehension of culprits under the relevant sections of the law in the future. (KS)
