Extortion in Kairana: Top cop directs to form ‘cell’ to ensure safety of traders

“Our investigation has confirmed that Furkan was involved in one of the three extortion cases. He himself had gone to the complainant’s shop to threaten him,” said Shahi. ASP A K Jha said investigation into the other two extortion cases was still on.

The National Human Rights Commission, in its investigation into complaints that Hindu families had “migrated” from Kairana following extortion threats, in its report — sent to state government — has stated that a fair and impartial trial of Furkhan and its associates should be ensured, as there is apprehension that witnesses would not depose against them due to fear. Last week, clerics from Deoband had visited senior police officers in Shamli and claimed that Furkan was trying to reform himself, said sources.

Furkan, a history-sheeter of Kairana police station, was in jail for his alleged role in the murder of businessman Vinod Kumar. The trader was shot dead at his shop in Kairana on August 16, 2014 and it was alleged that Furkan was making extortion calls to him.

Police said on September 15, an unidentified youth with his face covered had walked into the shop of one Raj Kumar Singhal and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay Rs 5 lakh. The youth left the shop on a motorcycle. Raj Kumar runs an electronic goods store at Begumpura market in Kairana. The police later identified the man as Furkan.

On September 19, Gaurav Chauhan — who is into the transport business — received a threat letter demanding Rs 10 lakh. The letter was sent with a .32 bore live cartridge. In another case, a threat letter was found pasted to the wall of one Suresh Chand’s house at Gharkeri village. The letter stated that a man would come to meet Suresh on September 21, and if he did not hand over Rs 5 lakh to him, he and his family would be killed, police said. Later, all the three traders went on to file cases with the police.