Meerut trader killed for refusing to pay extortion money

MEERUT: Barely a few hours after a group of BJP MPs met IG zone Ajay Anand on Thursday to express concern on the rising incidents of extortion in the region, a trader in Rohta town of Meerut district was shot dead for turning down an extortion demand and reporting the matter to the police.

Led by senior party leader and MP Hukum Singh, the group emphasised to the IG zone that increasing extortion demands were also “largely responsible” for the recent exodus from Kairana.

Following the trader’s murder, angry villagers placed his body on the Meerut-Baraut road and blocked traffic for hours. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused – gangster Monu Jat.

It was only after SSP J Ravindra Gaur assured the crowd of prompt police action in the case that the protesters agreed to hand over the body for post-mortem examination.

Gangster Monu Jat is wanted in many cases of extortion and murder. Cops have also declared an award of Rs 20 thousand on him. On September 8, Jat allegedly killed a farmer (Sheeshpal) and his wife in Rohta.

Soon after, he reportedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from leather trader Suresh Jatav, threatening him with dire consequences if he approached the police.

Despite the warning, Jatav reported the matter to the cops. To mount pressure on the gangster to surrender, police took Jat’s father, brother and sister into custody. Reportedly, upset over police action against his family, Jat and his aides shot Suresh Jatav dead at his residence on Thursday night.

According to sources, the gangster also threatened Jatav’s neighbours, saying that those who defied him and approached the police would meet the same fate. In the wake of the murder, additional force has been deployed in the town and a manhunt has been launched to nab the criminals. However, so far, police search has yielded no result.

CONCERNED OVER RISING INCIDENTS OF EXTORTION, BJP MPS MEET IG MEERUT ZONE