Sopore: A Panch associated with BJP was among three persons arrested for extorting money using toy gun in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said on Friday.
“Police received a complaint from Mudasir Ahmad Shiekh son of Ghulam Muhammad Shiekh of Panzipora Sopore, son in law of Ghulam Nabi Lone of Hamdani Colony Nadihal, stating therein that during the intervening night of 03/04 April 2021 some unidentified persons barged into his in-laws’ house at Nadihal along with weapons and asked them to drop them at South Kashmir,” a police spokesman said in a statement to GNS.
“The complaint further reads that they also took away two mobile phones and threatened them not to disclose this to anyone.”
In this regard, the police spokesman said that a case (FIR No. 20/2021) under section 450, 506 IPC and 7/25 Arms Act was lodged at Police Station Panzlla and investigation was set into motion.
“During the course of investigation, police taking advantage of modern techniques zeroed in on one person identified as Mehraj ud Din Rather, a Panch, son of Haji Muhammad Akbar Rather, resident of Minipora Krankshivan, Sopore and was called for questioning,” he said, adding, “During questioning, he confessed his involvement in the commission of crime and involvement of three other persons identified as Mohammad Saleem Wani, a Sarpanch son of Ghulam Rasool Wani resident of Hardpora Achabal, Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Lone son of Muhammad Shaban Lone resident of Nadihal and Muhammad Dilawar Khawaja son of Sonnaulla Khawaja resident of Dachinpora, Ruhama.”
Subsequently, he said, two accused persons namely Bashir Ahmad Lone and Muhammad Dilawar Khawaja were arrested while Mohammad Saleem Wani is still at large. “Efforts are on to nab the third accused.”
During further course of investigation, it came to fore that accused Mehraj-ud-Din Rather and Mohammad Saleem Wani had conspired to extort money from Lone Traders.
“It was also disclosed that Meharaj-ud-Din contacted Bashir, and Bashir contacted Dilawar for obtaining some fake (toy) weapons for committing the crime,” he said, adding, “The fake weapons have been also seized by Sopore Police and further investigation in the matter is going on.” (GNS)
