Pay us, or get killed in an ‘encounter,’ cops threaten Meerut’s Muslim trader
Lucknow: A Muslim businessman has said that two sub-inspectors, posted at Lohiyanagar police station in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, abducted him and threatened to kill him in a fake encounter if he does not pay them.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the officers have been suspended, but both reportedly went missing before they could be arrested.
The incident has raised fresh questions over the state’s repeated claims of a “zero tolerance policy” towards corruption and misuse of power.
According to the complaint, two sub-inspectors from the 2003 batch abducted a well-known Muslim trader, who runs a large thread business, from the Lisari Gate area.
The trader has said that he was picked up and threatened with being falsely implicated in a gold smuggling case. He was also warned that he could be killed in a police encounter if he did not pay money.
According to the complaint, the officers demanded Rs 20 lakh, which the trader paid out of fear.
A family member of the trader said, “He was terrified. They told him he would be shown as a smuggler and shot in an encounter. He had no choice but to arrange the money.”
The matter might have ended there, but the officers demanded an additional Rs 10 lakh a few days later. When the demand continued, the trader approached senior officials, including the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the SP City.
A police source said, “When the demand increased again, the businessman decided to complain. He realised that the extortion would not stop.”
SSP Avinash Pandey, speaking to the media, said, “A case has been registered against the two sub-inspectors. They have been suspended with immediate effect. Further investigation is underway.”
