MANSEHRA: Police claimed to have arrested four members of an inter-provincial gang of extortionists and received arms and ammunition from their possession.

“The gangsters were involved in kidnapping for ransoms and theft cases in Mansehra and other parts of Hazara,” DSP Zulfiqar Khan Jadoon told a press conference at his office here on Thursday.

The arrested persons, identified as Noman, Zeeshan, Mohammad Waseem and Mohammad Hamid, were presented before the journalists.

Mr Jadoon said that the arrested persons had robbed the house of Mohammad Saleem in Loharbanda area and decamped with gold ornaments and other valuables. He said that after committing the robbery, they threatened the owner to the house to pay them Rs300,000 otherwise they would kidnap his son.

The DSP said that they believed that some important cases of kidnapping for ransom and theft would be unearthed.

The pictures of the arrested persons were being released to media, he said and urged people to contact him in case to report more crimes committed by those men.

In another raid police, arrested a fraudulent, who used to deceive people by introducing himself as an official of a secrete agency. Police raided a house in Giamera area and arrested Mohammad Akbar and recovered a fake card of a spy agency from him.

Meanwhile, the tehsil administration has fined more than 40 drivers for overcharging commuters.

Assistant Commissioner Shahrukh Khan, on public complaints, launched a crackdown against transporters, who were overcharging passengers. He warned the transporters to reduce farers in accordance with the reduction in petroleum prices otherwise their route permits would be cancelled.

PROTEST: The traders in Torghar took to streets on Thursday and blocked Darband-Thakot Road against the district administration for imposing fines on them.

The traders closed their shops in Judbah, the district headquarters, and blocked Darband-Thakot Road by setting tyres on fire. They also chanted slogans against the district administration.

The passengers faced inconvenience owing to closure of the road for several hours.

Earlier, Assistant Commissioner Najeebullah paid a surprise visit to the bazaar and fined more than 12 shopkeepers for allegedly selling essential commodities at higher rates. The imposition of fines infuriated traders and they blocked the main road.

The road was reopened to traffic following the arrival of District Police Officer Abdul Saboor Khan to the spot.

Mr Khan said that Judbah was a settled territory of the district and traders should abide by the law and should follow the official pricelist.

He said that traders should display the official pricelist at a prominent place at their shops.

Police also registered FIR against 12 traders who according to police instigated their colleagues to block the road.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2015