Srinagar, August 8, : Jammu and Kashmir Police in Bandipora district of North Kashmir have arrested two individuals, including a Bharatiya Janata Party District Secretary, in connection with an alleged extortion attempt.
An official told the Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com that the arrests stem from accusations that the duo attempted to extort money from a local resident by posing as intermediaries in a police investigation.
The arrested include District Secretary BJP Sajad Ahmad Ganaie, son of Mohd Shafi Ganaie, a resident of Sheikh Mohalla Ajas, and BJP worker Bashir Ahmad Ganaie, son of Habibullah Ganie, a resident of Ganaie Mohalla Ajas.
An FIR number 151/2024 has been registered in Police Station Sumbal under sections 61(2) (Criminal Conspiracy), 62 (Attempting to Commit Offense), and 319(2) (Cheating by Personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complaint was lodged by Rafiq Ahmad Mir, a resident of Tanga Batho, Ajas Bandipora.
According to the FIR accessed by Kashmir Dot Com, on July 31, 2024, Rafiq Ahmad Mir was traveling in a private Maruti vehicle when he encountered Sajad Ahmad Ganaie and Bashir Ahmad Ganaie. During the journey, Sajad allegedly received a call from an unknown individual who claimed to be ASP Bandipora and inquired about Mir’s financial status. The caller purportedly demanded Rs. 20,000 from Mir.
The FIR states, Sajad Ahmad reportedly instructed Mir to comply with the demand, which led Mir to feel suspicious and distressed. Subsequently, Mir reported the incident to the local Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and District Superintendent of Police (SP), alleging that Sajad and Bashir were attempting to extort money under the guise of a police inquiry.
The FIR suggests that Sajad misrepresented the call as coming from an ASP, aiming to deceive Mir and extract money.
Meanwhile, locals have requested for stern police action against the accused, expressing concern that this incident might be part of a broader pattern of criminal activity.
Earlier, in 2022, Bandipora booked a district president of the BJP for allegedly demanding and accepting one lakh from a lady in lieu of getting her brother released from police custody. Later, the BJP high command ousted him from his post; however, he still remains a part of the party.
People have called for stringent measures against the accused, alleging that individuals with criminal backgrounds have been exploiting their affiliations with the BJP to intimidate and extort money from local residents and shopkeepers by falsely claiming to protect them from non-existent police investigations. (KDC)
