Srinagar: Police here have busted a “honey trap” gang and arrested four members, including two women, who allegedly extorted money from people, officials said on Friday.
Two gang members, including a woman, posed as police officers while another as a journalist, they said.
Addressing a press conference here, Superintendent of Police (SP), South Srinagar, Gaurav Sikarwar said the arrests came after one of the victims informed police on how the gang operates and exhorts money from the people.
“A gang of fraudsters has been busted that was operating in Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar. This gang was deceiving, cheating and extorting from people throughout the city,” police said.
SP South said the gang’s strategy consisted of “honey trapping” people so as to blackmail them into paying money.
The women lured people into romantic relationships and then created scenarios where they could be blackmailed by involving other members of the gang posing as media personnel or police, he said.
He said four persons including two females have been arrested in this regard and a formal case is registered against them under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Firdous Ahmed Mir from Rainawari, posed as a superintendent of police, while Masrat Mir, a resident of Habba Kadal posed as an officer of the Crime Branch.
Tariq Mir, a resident of Lal Bazar, posed as a journalist and Ashiya from Bemina honey-trapped the victims, police said.
Police said the arrests were made following a complaint by one of the victims of this gang, who was ‘honey trapped’ by one of the female gang members some two years ago through social media.
“After winning his trust, she asked him to meet at her chosen place, and as soon as the victim entered the room, he found a fake police officer and a journalist already present in the next room. After sometime the fake media person threatened him that he will file a complaint against him,” police said, adding that the other female member posing as Crime Branch officer then suddenly appeared on the door and together they all started to coerce the victim.
To settle the case, the SP said the gang then demanded money from the victim, who initially handed over a cheque to them; however the gang demanded more money to settle the case once for all.
“He transferred money through some of his friends; however, the gang continued to blackmail him. The victim finally informed his parents and subsequently filed a complaint following which the entire gang was busted and accused arrested,” he added.
