Extortion through mobile phone call increasing in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Apr 1: Demanding of toll through mobile phone by the name of outlawed groups is increasing in Rajshahi in the recent days.
It is learnt, recently, a caller identifying himself as a member of Lal Bahini demanded a large amount of toll from Professor Anisuzzaman Manik of the department of Philosophy of Rajshahi University and threatened him to kill in case of failure to pay the toll. The caller also threatened Professor Manik not to disclose the incident to anyone.
The 'Lal Bahini' man further said, some of their comrades were injured during operation and were taking treatment which involves a huge amount of money. That's why they were demanding the toll from Professor Manik for the treatment of their comrades.
On receiving the call, Professor Manik has filed a general diary with Motihar thana demanding security of his life.
Officer-in-charge of Motihar thana Abdur Rouf informed, police has got the mobile phone number of the caller of so-called member of Lal Bahini and was investigating the incident.    
On the other hand, unidentified miscreants identifying him as member of Seven Star Criminal Group demanded taka five lakh toll from a businessman of Rajshahi district through mobile phone recently.
Local businessman Syed Zakir Hossain to whom the toll was demanded filed a general diary last Tuesday with Boalia thana in this connection.
It is known, an unidentified caller from an Indian mobile phone number +917044397804 called Zakir Hossain over his mobile phone. The caller introduced himself as a member of Seven Star Criminal Group. He also said, their partymen were in the hospital and were also been imprisoned. They need Tk 1.5 million (15 lakh) to set them free. So, Zakir Hossain has to pay them Tk 0.5 million as toll, otherwise, he will face unbearable loss. The caller also threatened him not to disclose the incident of phone call to any one.
Alamgir Hossain, Officer-in-charge of Boalia thana informed, they are trying to locate and nab the criminal.
Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants recently demanded Tk 50,000 toll from father of one Helal (20) of Patinitola upazila under Naogaon district recently.  Failing to get the amount, the miscreants abducted Helal and took him to a place under Natore district. Later on, father of Helal, after a negotiation, sent Tk 10,000 through bKash to the miscreants. The miscreants blindfolded abducted Helal at night, took him near Abdulpur railway station before throwing him near the station from a CNG and managed to escape.
Father of Helal rescued him from Abdulpur railway station.
However, no case or general diary was filed by father of Helal in this connection. It is learnt, fearing retaliation from the outlawed group, many people do not dare to file a complaint with the local thana. Rather they settled the issue through negotiation with those outlawed miscreants and pay the toll as demanded by the miscreants.
An official of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police in this connection informed, the police cannot help to nab criminals demanding tolls if the person concerned settled the issue between them and pays the toll to the miscreants secretly.  
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