Extortionist, 13 usurers held in Peshawar crackdown

PESHAWAR: The capital city police have rounded up an extortionist during an action in Badaber while 13 usurers were arrested during a crackdown against money-lenders, officials said on Sunday.

“The police arrested one Ajmal in connection with extortion calls to a village in Masho Gagar. He had demanded Rs10 million and threatened to kidnap the children of the family and blow up the house with explosives in case of non-payment,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Operations, Sajjad Khan told a press conference at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines on Sunday.

He was flanked by SP Rural Furqan Bilal and SP Saddar Shaukat Khan.The official added that actions had been expedited against the extortionists all over the provincial capital. “We have rounded up 13 usurers who were involved in charging high interest from needy people against the loans. A campaign has been ordered across the provincial capital against the money-lenders. The people have been asked to approach the cops in case of any such complaint,” said Sajjad Khan.

The official added that an act had been passed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly about the usurers under which actions would be taken against all those involved in the practice. The capital city police have prepared a list of all such individuals and groups who have been charging high interest on the principal amount from the needy people. Interestingly, one of the arrested usurers is a woman.

The actions were taken in the limits of Khazana, Bhanamari, Chamkani, Mathra, West Cantt, Gulberg, Gulbahar, Daudzai and Hashtnagri police stations. The accused were identified as Mohammad Umar, Abdul Ali, Ayesha, Rahmat Hussain, Amir, Asghar, Shamsur Rehman, Abbas Ali, Habib Gul, Nadir and Gulfam.

The SSP operations said the police had constituted teams and directives were issued to all the sub-divisional police officers and station house officers to go after those who have made the lives of the common people miserable.

“During an action against car snatchers, an inter-provincial group has been busted and its 10 members have been arrested. Six vehicles were also recovered from them,” said Sajjad Khan. The car snatchers were identified as Abdul Wakeel, Abdul Wahab, Said Wali, Tariq Bakhsh, Ma’azullah, Inayat, Sher Zaman, Israr, Mohammad Amin and Bilal.

The SSP operations said the investigation of various cases reported in the city has been accelerated and several gangs have been arrested and identified.  “The robbery in which gold and valuables were looted from a jeweler Salman Shah after killing him in his Gulbahar locality has been worked out. The accused has been arrested and all the looted goods have been recovered,” said Sajjad Khan.