Kairana again: Another businessman alleges extortion threat

According to the complaint, Arif and his partner Mohsin run a hardware and building material shop at Bisatyan locality in Kairana police station area. In his complaint, Arif said that Mohsin was sitting at the shop when Shahzad Kala accompanied by his two aides reached there on a motorcycle. Shahzad aimed a pistol at Mohsin asking him to arrange for Rs 1 lakh within three days failing which he would be shot dead. The gangster left the place later, the complainant alleged.

SHO, Kairana police station, Ambika Prasad Bharadwaj said they have been conducting raids to trace Shahzad who has four criminal cases against him, including that of attempt to murder. A case has been registered on Arif’s complaint against Shahzad and his two associates under IPC section 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), he added.

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Two armed police constables have been deputed for security at the shop, the SHO added.

Contacted, Additional Superintendent of Police, Shamli, Anil Kumar Jha claimed that the incident was not related to organised crime. They suspect that a local resident had hired Shahzad to recover his pending money from Arif. However, this could be verified only after Shahzad is caught, said ASP.

It may be mentioned that two weeks ago, bike-borne miscreants had opened fire at Kamal Kumar while he was sitting at his medical store in City Kotwali police station area in Shamli. The incident occurred three months after Kamal had lodged a case alleging that he was receiving extortion calls for Rs 10 lakh. Police had then identified four persons, including two jailed gangsters behind the threat calls. Kumar had been provided security, but it was withdrawn after the accused were identified and two of them were sent to jail.

Kairana hit the headlines last month after local BJP MP alleged that 346 Hindu families have “migrated” from the Western UP town following threats from the criminals belonging to a particular community.

On Sunday, Governor Ram Naik sent a “special report” to President Pranab Mukherjee on the alleged exodus from Kairana, apart from the recent violence in Mathura and the Dadri lynching incident. The Centre had been asking the state for a report on the “exodus” of Hindu families from Kairana.