SPO, former militant arrested in Uhampur

Jammu, Feb 8 (UNI) A Special Police Officer (SPO) and a former militant have been arrested for extorting money and other valuables from locals in Basantgarh area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, police sources today said.

The arrests were made based on the reports from the people from different villages of Basantgarh that two youths, posing as militants, had extorted cash and some ornaments from them.

The extortionists were identified as Romesh Kumar, a SPO posted in Basantgarh police station and Mohammad Irfan, a former militant.

The SPO has been dis-engaged from his services, sources added.

The duo had extorted Rs 22,000. The police have, however, recovered only Rs 12,500 from their possession.

Further investigation is on to recover the cash in full.

UNI