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MLAs from Punjab, Delhi too received threat calls, probe on: Haryana minister Vij
Haryana home minister Anil Vij said six people were arrested recently for allegedly making extortion calls to some MLAs of the state and also giving death threats.
Several MLAs, including those from Punjab and Delhi, besides legislators of Haryana, had received threat calls recently, Haryana home minister Anil Vij said on Monday in the Assembly. He said this was revealed during investigation by a Special Task Force (STF) of the Haryana Police.
He said six people were arrested recently for allegedly making extortion calls to some MLAs of the state and also giving death threats.
"Our STF has done a great job in the matter. As per information, an Afghani national had brought the sim card. The IP address was from Pakistan... our team arrested six people from different places," Vij said.
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“About 55 ATM cards, 84 SIM cards, 30-35 checkbooks and mobiles have been recovered from the six arrested persons. Further investigation is underway... Threats have been received by three MLAs from Punjab and two MLAs from Delhi's AAP,” he further told reporters.
Earlier, he spoke on the issue while replying to a Calling Attention Motion on law and order issues, including threat calls to some legislators, in the Assembly.
During investigations, it was found that threats and extortion demands were routed through some Pakistani residents, Vij said.
The accused do not belong to any terrorist organisation and were cyber fraudsters who had taken advantage of the recent widely publicised incidents of crime in Punjab and were trying to exploit the situation, the minister said.
Last month, STF inspector general of police Satheesh Balan had said four MLAs from Haryana had received such calls between June 24 and 28 from multiple phone numbers which were traced to West Asian countries and operated from Pakistan.
Two members of the gang hailing from Uttar Pradesh were arrested from Mumbai while the other four, all from Bihar, were arrested from Muzaffarpur.
(With inputs from agencies)
