Retired cops' sons held for extortion

RAJKOT: Four persons, including sons of retired policemen, were arrested on Sunday for kidnapping a jewel ler in Surend ranagar town to extort Rs 30 lakh from him.
Following a complaint lodged by the victim Sheikh Asghar Ali alias Babloo Sonar Ali, 40, the police arrested Manharsinh Jhala, son of a retired assistant sub inspector, Imran Sheikh, son of a retired police sub inspector, Sakir Razaak Khokhar and their one more accomplice.
On October 14, the four accused on two bikes had waylaid Ali when he was on the way home after closing his jewellery shop near Mahalaxmi Talkies. One of them snatched his bike and forced him to ride pillion with them. They took him at an isolated spot near Narmada canal on Dhrangadhra road and assaulted him with knife and sword and asked him to shell out Rs 30 lakh. They even took away Rs 5,000 from his pocket.
Ali told them that he could manage for the extortion money once he reaches home. Two of the accused even accompanied him at his house in Harsiddhi Park. However, Ali raised an alarm immediately on entering the house and the duo fled from there. On Saturday night, Ali lodged a complaint with the A-division police station. The four have been booked for kidnapping, extortion and loot. Their bikes, sword and knife have been seized.
PSI K M Prajapati, who is investigating the case, told TOI that the four have a criminal history and have earlier been arrested under Prohibition Act and assaults.