Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jul 30: A complaint stands filed against a gang which is involved with making money by blackmailing gullible persons by using women for their operation. A team led by assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Bantwal, Rahul Kumar, has taken up the task of investigating the case and booking the culprits for their offences.

Basheer and Harris from Loretto Padavu in Bantwal taluk had visited Goliangady near Venoor on July 27. Basheer often visits this place, as land, shop, and buildings in the name of his wife exist there. He was returning in the evening in an auto rickshaw owned by a relative named Muhammed Harris, also of Loretto Padavu, when he got a call on cell phone from a person named Asif from Goliangady, whom he knew. Asif said a young lady, who happens to be his relative, was standing at Laila, and requested Basheer to drop her off at Ujire.

Basheer obliged, and picked a Burkha-clad lady aged between 25 and 30 years from Laila and was taking her to Ujire in the auto rickshaw, when a car followed the auto rickshaw and intercepted it. Five persons travelling by the car then attacked Harris.

When the gang questioned the lady, she said the two had offered her to pay ten thousand rupees for accompanying them. Basheer said that the gang then snatched away cell phones and cash from them, and took them away to a deserted spot a little distance away. Once there, their photos were taken in the company of lady. The gang said these photos would be posted on Whatapp, rape case would be filed, and the two would be brutally beaten up at the hands of the police, if a sum of Rs 10 lac was not paid to the gang.

Another gang which came there in another jeep took away the lady and the two persons for some distance on Kajoor road, and prepared a video involving them. The gang insisted on payment of agreed sum on the same day, and then kept the duo in house arrest in a deserted house in Nainad in Bantwal taluk for sometime.

Later that day, the gang took them away towards Bantwal, snatched away certain documents, and released them after warning to make payment of the sum in cash on July 28. They said that the money should be handed over to Asif on the evening of July 28. Abdul Basheer visited the police station here on Wednesday and filed a complaint against Asif and 12 others.

Under the guidance of superintendent of police, Dr Shjaranappa, ASP, Rahul Kumar and his team has begun investigation. The team is searching for people involved with this racket. Separate teams have been formed, and a few have already been taken into custody and questioned, it is gathered.

Madikeri: Blackmail, extortion using woman - Gang of three held

Madikeri, Jul 30: A police team of Kodagu district crime intelligence bureau (DCIB) has succeeded in arresting a gang of three persons, who reportedly worked by using women as bait, and then blackmailed the victims into coughing up money to wriggle out of the situation. The arrested persons are K Abdul Rahiman from Yelane Hoskote in the district, as well as Hakim and Majeed, residing near Muttappa shrine in the town.

A Hyundai car worth about nine lac rupees, cash amounting to one lac rupees, three cell phones, and three pairs of police uniform they reportedly used for the crime, were recovered from their possession.

The gang operates a Homestay at Haleri near Suntikoppa. They used to get customers for this facility. The plan was to approach the customers in the garb of policemen and forcing them to part with money. The DCIB which investigated the case, succeeded in busting the racket and arresting the culprits.

DCIB police inspector, P K Muralidhar, giving information about the modus operandi of the gang at a press conference held here on Wednesday July 29, said that after getting a house in Haleri on lease and converting it into Homestay, the gang members indulged in immoral activities. On April 15 this year, they got in contact with Bava alias Muhammed from Manandawadi with the promise of getting him agricultural land on lease for growing ginger, and brought Bava's friends, K Naushad and Saju to the said Homestay.

When a woman and a young lady, who were in the Homestay, were serving tea to the new guests, the accused who came there dressed in police uniforms, threatened Naushad and Saju, accusing these two of involvement with theft of pepper, and charging them of having sexual relationship with women. They attacked the two, and threatened to register cases against them. as a result of which the clients got overwhelmed and dismayed.

In the meanwhile, a person named Sharfuddin, who has connections with the accused, came there. After promising to settle the issue out of legal system, he asked Naushad to pay Rs 25 lac to come out of the situation. After discussions were held between the two sides, the amount was reduced to Rs 13 lac. After an agreement was struck on payment, Naushad and Saju were dropped off back at Manandawadi.

In the following days, Naushad got suspicious about the entire deal, and complained to Suntikoppa police station. District superintendent of police, Vartika Katiyar, handed over investigation of the case to DCIB.

In the past too, two cases had been registered against this gang. In one of these cases, the gang had brought Ashraf and Mustafa from Kerala to Madiekri on January 7 this year, by promising to strike a deal on purchase of Innova car in the town. They were provided accommodation at the said Homestay. As usual, the accused approached the Homestay in police dress, and succeeded in extracting four lac rupees from these two people. This complaint was filed in Suntikoppa station.

In another case, a person named Muhammed Ashraf was taken to Haleri Homestay after promising to get him to hire a hotel building in the town, and he too was forced to part with four lac rupees. About this case too, a complaint had been filed.