The two men contacted a family, said they could help get the father out of detention, and asked for one million rupees (about $15,000).
Two suspects have been arrested in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, on suspicion of extorting money from a family in order to secure the release of a detained family member, according to a report from Srinagar on July 4.
The Baramulla Police Department has opened an inquiry into allegations made against Mudasir Ahmad Wani of Sangri and Yasir Rashid Rather of Malpora.
Faisal Bashir Saleh, son of Bashir Ahmad Saleh, resident of Kanlibagh, Baramulla, submitted a written appeal to the Police Station in Baramulla on July 3, claiming that his father, Bashir Ahmad Saleh, had been held under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since 2022.
Mudasir Ahmad Wani S/O Manzoor Ahmad Wani R/O Sangri Baramulla and Yasir Rashid Rather S/O Ab Rashid Rather R/O Malpora Sheeri contacted their family to have his father out from detention and wanted Rs 1 Lac. Both men claimed to be affiliated with a political organisation.
The family was in such dire straits that they just couldn’t afford to pay them.
Meanwhile, the applicant’s father was freed from his PSA, and both of the accused re-approached him and his family for payment. The applicant’s family, however, refused to pay and informed the men they had no money. But both the accused individuals compelled them to pay, visiting their house and even calling on the phone on many occasions to threaten them with dire consequences if they did not pay the sum and re-arrest his father, according to the statement.
According to the police, the complainant paid the accused Rs 10,000 to keep his father safe, and the accused then gave him a deadline to pay the whole Rs 1 lac.
Regarding this matter, a First Information Report (FIR) No. 134/2023 u/s 384, 420 IPC has been filed and an inquiry has been initiated at the Police Station in Baramulla.
