Two arrested for extorting pushcart vendors near Charminar
Charminar Police arrested two persons involved in an illegal extortion racket targeting pushcart vendors in the Old City. The suspects allegedly collected daily mamool from vendors and threatened them with knives if they refused to pay
Hyderabad: The Charminar Police on Thursday arrested two persons involved in an illegal extortion racket targeting pushcart vendors and allegedly threatening and forcing them to pay daily “mamool” to continue their businesses.
The suspects were identified as Shaik Naseeruddin alias Mohammed Naseeruddin alias Ganna Naseer (72), a juice vendor and rowdy-sheeter of Bhavani Nagar Police Station, and Mohd Azaan Quadri alias Toufeeq (42), a petty vendor from Yakutpura. Another associate, Azhar, is absconding.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended near Ruman Hotel in Mirchowk. During interrogation, they confessed to collecting illegal “mamool” from pushcart vendors around Charminar. Initially, they allegedly collected Rs 500 per day and later increased it to Rs 1,000, threatening vendors with knives and warning them to vacate the area if they refused to pay.
Police said Shaik Naseeruddin has a criminal background with several cases registered against him under the NDPS Act, Arms Act, Gaming Act and other offences, including extortion and attempt to murder.
The suspects were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.