Anantnag Police arrest two for extorting ₹24,000 with fake NDPS threat
Synopsis
Two men in Anantnag have been arrested for squeezing ₹24,000 out of a local resident by threatening to plant a fake NDPS case against him — the latest in a string of legal-threat extortion cases across the Kashmir Valley, where fabricated criminal proceedings have become a tool of financial coercion.
Key Takeaways
Anantnag Police arrested two persons on 13 August 2026 for extorting ₹24,000 using the threat of a false NDPS case.
The complainant, Ajaz Ahmad Shah of Pethi Nambal Mattan , was verified by police to have no NDPS involvement.
Accused identified as Muzafar Ahmad Mir (Bijbehara) and Jan Mohd Wagay (Pethi Nambal Mattan); FIR No.
68/2026 registered under BNS Sections 308, 318, and 351.
BJP District President Showkat Gayoor Andrabi was separately booked for demanding ₹5 lakh and taking ₹54,000 from a businessman; the party suspended him.
A J&K Special Crime Wing operation in Srinagar and Ganderbal earlier busted a syndicate that extorted over ₹30 lakh from a senior citizen.
Anantnag Police in Jammu and Kashmir arrested two men on Thursday, 13 August 2026, for extorting ₹24,000 from a local resident by threatening to falsely implicate him in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case. The arrests came within hours of a formal complaint being filed at Police Station Srigufwara.
How the Complaint Unfolded
The complainant, Ajaz Ahmad Shah, son of Mohd Maqbool and a resident of Pethi Nambal Mattan, alleged that the two accused had already extracted ₹24,000 from him and warned that non-payment would result in a fabricated NDPS case being filed against him. Upon receiving the complaint, police verified the allegations and confirmed that Shah had no involvement in any such case.
A case was subsequently registered under FIR No. 68/2026 at Police Station Srigufwara, invoking Sections 308(2)(6), 318(4), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Who Was Arrested
Investigators identified and detained both accused during the course of the probe. The arrested individuals are Muzafar Ahmad Mir, son of Ghulam Mohd Mir, a resident of Veer Nowbugh Bijbehara, and Jan Mohd Wagay, son of Gh. Rasool, also a resident of Pethi Nambal Mattan.
'The arrests mark a swift police response to the complaint and reaffirm Anantnag Police's commitment to protecting citizens from intimidation, extortion and misuse of criminal threats,' the official police statement said.
A Pattern of Legal-Threat Extortion Across Kashmir
The Anantnag case is part of a broader pattern of extortion rackets in the Kashmir Valley that exploit the fear of criminal proceedings. Notably, police recently booked BJP District President Showkat Gayoor Andrabi for allegedly demanding ₹5 lakh and forcibly collecting ₹54,000 from a businessman, reportedly blocking soil-transporting vehicles and threatening operators with the Public Safety Act (PSA). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership officially suspended Andrabi following the FIR.
Separately, the Special Crime Wing of J&K Police dismantled a major syndicate operating across Srinagar and Ganderbal, where scammers used fabricated complaints and arrest threats to extort over ₹30 lakh from a senior citizen. Multiple raids were conducted against four primary accused in that case.
What the Arrests Signal
The swift action in Anantnag underscores the J&K Police's stated intent to crack down on individuals weaponising the legal system for financial gain. This is the latest in a series of extortion-related arrests across the Valley, where false NDPS threats have reportedly become a recurring tool of intimidation. With multiple high-profile cases now under investigation, authorities appear to be signalling a zero-tolerance posture toward such schemes.
Point of View
Which stands in contrast to cases where political connections delayed action, as seen in the Andrabi matter. The deeper structural question is whether J&K's legal framework, with its broad preventive detention powers, creates the very fear that extortionists exploit. Until that vulnerability is addressed systemically, swift arrests will be necessary but not sufficient.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were two men arrested in Anantnag on 13 August 2026?
They were arrested for extorting ₹24,000 from a local resident, Ajaz Ahmad Shah, by threatening to falsely implicate him in an NDPS case. Police verified the complainant had no such case against him and registered FIR No. 68/2026 at Police Station Srigufwara.
Who are the accused in the Anantnag extortion case?
The two accused are Muzafar Ahmad Mir, a resident of Veer Nowbugh Bijbehara, and Jan Mohd Wagay, a resident of Pethi Nambal Mattan. Both were identified and arrested during the investigation.
What legal sections were invoked in the Anantnag extortion FIR?
The FIR was registered under Sections 308(2)(6), 318(4), and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which cover extortion, cheating, and criminal intimidation.
Is legal-threat extortion a wider problem in Jammu and Kashmir?
Yes, according to recent police actions. A J&K Special Crime Wing operation busted a syndicate in Srinagar and Ganderbal that extorted over ₹30 lakh from a senior citizen using fabricated arrest threats. Separately, BJP District President Showkat Gayoor Andrabi was booked for extorting money from a businessman using PSA threats.
What action was taken against BJP leader Showkat Gayoor Andrabi?
Andrabi was booked by police for allegedly demanding ₹5 lakh and forcibly collecting ₹54,000 from a businessman, reportedly threatening him with the Public Safety Act. The BJP officially suspended him after the FIR was filed.
