Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Jan 19: Katra Police busted an extortion gang operating on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Ban Ganga track.
According to Police, a reliable information was received at Police Post Ban Ganga regarding illegal activities being carried out near the Jalpan Ticket Counter on the SMVD track. Upon due verification, it was found that several pithu operators were being unlawfully stopped and harassed by a local shop worker namely Arshad Ahmed, in connivance with Shankaar Singh alias Dhanu Raja, an employee of M-Tech Innovations, and Bittu Singh alias Babbu Shah.
The accused were found to be threatening the victims with false implication, denial of services and continuous harassment. Under fear and coercion, the victims were extorted with an amount of Rs 500 each for being allowed to cross the checkpoint.
Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, case FIR No. 23/2025 U/S 308(2)/3(5) BNS was registered at Police Station Katra and all the accused persons were taken into custody. Further investigation is underway.
The whole operation was carried out by Incharge PP Banganga, PSI Rahul Jamwal and SHO Katra, Ranjeet Singh Rao, under the close supervision of SDPO Katra, Dr Bhishm Dubey.
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