While the home department claims it has taken steps to control use of mobile phones in the jail, associates of a jailed criminal set fire to the vehicle of a scrap owner in KG Halli after he refused to pay protection money. Despite the arrest of a criminal, Raheel, he continued his activities unabated even from the jail.
A four-wheeler belonging to a scrap dealer was set on fire by Raheel’s gang members as a warning, after the dealer refused to pay protection money. The incident occurred in Muktinagar, 500m away from KG Halli police station.
Thirty-one-year-old Syed Zabiulla, who runs a scrap business in KG Halli, filed a complaint with the KG Halli police on Sunday. Though he mentioned the reason in his complaint, the police are not buying his theory.
In his complaint, Zabiulla said he was approached by a gang of three—including Imran, Baban and Moosa, associates of Raheel—a few days ago. They demanded that he pay `10,000 per month as protection money towards Raheel’s expenses.
The East division police had caught Raheel after a chase last November. They managed to catch him only after shooting at his legs.
Raheel had more than half a dozen criminal cases pending against him and was notorious for chain-snatching, extortion and robbery. The police said he had fixed an amount with all the businessmen in the area and threatened them to pay every month.
“This is daylight robbery and despite Raheel being in jail, we do not have any respite,” Zabiulla said, adding that despite police action, his extortion continues unabated in the area.
When Zabiulla did not pay the protection money, the gang on Saturday confronted him, asking the reason for non-payment. Heated argument ensued, following which the gang left the place, warning him of dire consequences.
At 2.40am on Sunday, Zabiulla woke up to the cry of neighbours and rushed out of his house.
He saw that his goods four-wheeler, parked in front of the house, was engulfed in flames. He told DNA that it was the handiwork of the gang members to warn those businessmen who refuse to pay protection money.
Police disagree
Though Zabiulla filed a complaint against the trio, police inspector Siddappa NH refuted Zabiulla, saying the police were ascertaining the exact cause of the fire accident. The residents were shocked and vented their ire on the police.
Another businessman said they got a respite after Raheel was arrested, but the torment re-started soon after his associates got out on bail and resumed extortion.
There were two other incidents in the last week wherein this gang beat up a man and later a petty businessman in the area for refusing to pay.
Though both had to be hospitalised, they refused to file a complaint, he said.
When this incident was brought to the notice, the deputy commissioner of police (East division), Chandrashekhar, said he would take necessary action in this regard.
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