8 Haryana STF policemen detained on extortion charges

The district police on Monday detained eight policemen, including Ashok Sheoran, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, of the disbanded special task force (STF), to investigate allegations of extortion reported from this industrial township last week

The district police on Monday detained eight policemen, including Ashok Sheoran, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, of the disbanded special task force (STF), to investigate allegations of extortion reported from this industrial township last week.

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District police chief Rajinder Singh told reporters that the personnel rounded up would be subjected to an identification parade before further action.

The Haryana Police disbanded the STF on Sunday following reports of the involvement of the personnel in extortion. The STF was constituted to look into serious and organised crimes in the state. However, two cases of extortion came to light here on March 10 in which the STF men were allegedly involved.

A share broker, Rajat Kumar, alleged that seven armed men reached his office at Jagannath Vihar Colony on March 10 and demanded Rs 10 lakh. They said they were members of the police Crime Branch and forcibly took away Rs 6 lakh before fleeing in a white Bolero. An FIR was registered on March 11.

Jewellery shop owner Vishambhar Kumar Malhotra had lodged a complaint of extortion stating that the armed men beat a hasty retreat when he asked them for their ID cards.