By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers Sindh have arrested four alleged extortionists in a swift operation in New Karachi, seizing weapons, vehicles and cash after responding to a complaint from a factory owner, the paramilitary force said in a press release on Tuesday.
According to the Rangers, the arrests were made on January 20 after a private garments factory owner contacted the Rangers helpline (1101) to report that four armed men had entered his factory and were demanding Rs1.5 million in extortion money at gunpoint.
Acting on the information, Rangers personnel launched an immediate operation, reached the site and cordoned off the area. The suspects were arrested red-handed, the statement said. The detained men were identified as Abdul Qadir Bugti, son of Israr Ahmed; Mashooq Ali, son of Muhammad Saleh; Ghulam Hussain, son of Ali Hussain Soomro; and Abdul Hakeem, son of Hamid Bakhsh.
During the operation, Rangers recovered a 12-bore weapon with ammunition, a 9mm pistol with ammunition, a Corolla car, a motorcycle, three mobile phones and cash from the suspects’ possession. The Rangers said the arrested men were involved in multiple incidents of extortion in the area.
The statement added that raids were under way to arrest other accomplices linked to the group. The four suspects, along with the recovered weapons, ammunition and seized items, have been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings.
The operation comes amid ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb extortion and organised crime in Karachi’s industrial and commercial areas, where business owners have frequently complained of threats and demands for protection money.
