Managing Editor Kashmir Crown Ashiq Mir arrested for extortion and criminal intimidation
Given public outcry and media exposes about facebook page Kashmir Crown, police says more arrests expected, as complaints pile up
SNS KASHMIR
Srinagar, Aug 20: After strong public outcry on extortion and blackmailing by Kashmir Crown- Facebook admins, police on Saturday arrested Ashiq Mir,-Manging Editor Kashmir Crown for extortion and criminal intimidation to a man from Kalroos Kupwara.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarters Sajad Bukhari told SNS Kashmir following the registration of an FIR bearing No 177 dated 3-8-2021 Under Section 384,506 against Kashmir Crown and its Managing Editor of Kashmir Crown Ashiq in connection with case of extortion and blackmailing, Mir has been arrested and further arrested are expected.
He said a case under IPC sections of 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered in Baramulla police station against Ashiq Mir after he demanded money from a man of Kalaroos Kupwara threatening him to upload his video of family dispute on social media.
The complainant was demanded Rs 2 lakh at Kashmir Crown Office- a facebook page run by Imran Ahmad Ganai (aka Shahid Imran) who is also involved in several FIRs for similar charges and bungling of funds collected as donation from people via crowd funding against which people of Ganderbal are up in arms demanding justice to three orphan girls, sources said.
Confirming the arrest, Senior Supritendent of Police SSP Baramulla Rayees Mohammed said that further investigations are underway and Rs one lakh “extortion money” has been recovered so far from Ashiq Mir. However, he said, investigations are underway and details would be shared at appropriate time.
People from cross section of society,religious organization and media organisations has hailed the timely and swift action by Baramulla police and demanded in-depth investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile Police has registered another case of extortion and criminal intimidation against Kashmir Crown Editor and owner Shahid Imran and its correspondent Ashiq Mir for allegedly extorting Rs 10000 and blackmailing a girl (name withheld) from Chatlora Rafiabad who approached the social media outlet to expose drug menace.
According the statement of the victim girl from Chatlora Rafiabad, she approached the social media outlet with request to highlighting the evil of drug menace in which her brother was also involved but Shahid Imran asked her to record the statement on camera in KC office with the condition that neither the video nor any audio would be uploaded on any social media platform.
“Breaching the trust, Kashmir Crown uploaded the video of young girl on social media which went viral causing huge embracement and social stigma to the family of the girl besides life and reputation of the girl whose video was uploaded got jeopardized,” said Advocate Tajmul Rizvi in his application for lodging an FIR against accused Shahid Imran and Ashiq Mir.
The application quoting the victim girl said that after the situation of the girl (Complainant) and family her family turned terrible, the girl approached Shahid Imran questioning his breach of trust and insisted him to delete the video but Imran refused and threatened her for life.
“After continuously approaching Shahid Imran to delete the video, Shahid Imran demanded Rs 100000 (one lakh) from the girl for deleting and delinking the video from social media. The girl paid Rs 35000 into the account of Kashmir Crown Trust bearing Account No 0567010100000321 and rest amount Rs 65000 was asked to deposit into the account No 0567010250000193 owned by Ghulam Mohammad Ganai proprietor of Woman Hub who happens to be father of Shahid Imran Ganaie,” the application filed into the court reads.
Acting the on the application, Court of Judicial Magistrate Ist class Dangiwahcha ordered Station House Officer Dangiwacha to lodge an FIR into the matter and act against the accused as per law.
“ Police Station Dangiwacha lodged an FIR bearing No 145/2021 under section 384 and 506 IPC against accused Shahid Imran Ganai son of Ghulam Mohammad Ganai of Rohama Rafiabad and Ashiq Mir,” the FIR copy reads.
With this FIR and allegation of extortion, the so called ‘Journalism for Change’ got exposed what they do in the grab of running a media outlet but authorities seem listless.
“Facebook Page Kashmir Crown’s Chief Editor Shahid Imran got exposed by a call recording, screen shots of bank transactions and chat screenshots that were shown as evidence by the victim girl. In the call recording Shahid Imran was heard giving direction as in where to transfer the money into the account named as Women Hub run by his father after the girl pleaded to delete the video ,” said a neitzen while sharing the voice clip.
“It is weekly newspaper registered, how come they can run a news channel on social media to loot poor people. Ironically, they opened a trust for collecting crowd funding throwing all media norms and ethics to wind and authorities turn blind eye towards the issue,” said a senior journalist who wished no to be named.
People from cross section of society has been raising voice against the Kashmir Crown media outlet after it opened a Kashmir Crown Trust that too without any registration and collected crowd funding for some poor and gullible orphans which never reached them.
A group of social activist from Ganderbal and a regions cleric, demanded in-depth investigation into the bungling of 60 lakh rupees which have been collected in the name of the three orphan girls.
“These girls got 25 Lakh into their account from locals while as 1 Crore, 9 lakh and 34 thousand rupees went into the account of Shahid Imran out which he tranfered only 50 lakh rupees into the account of the three orphan girls on January 21 2021,” they social activists of Budgam said.
“ After we took up the matter with District Administration, the then DC froze the accounts of Shahid Imran and a committee was constituted to investigate the matter. Later, it was decided by the committee that Shahid Imran will transfer more 50 lakh into the account of the three sisters and build the house from 9 lakh and 34 thousand which he never did,” they alleged.
Negating the claims of Shahid Imran, the trio sisters have 80 lakh into the account, they social activists said that out of 1 Crore 9 lac 34 thousand, he has only paid 50 where is rest 6o lakh rupees. We want justice and investigation into the case,” they demanded. The three orphan girls want their money as they are badly suffering,” said a local from Budgam.
Meanwhile, a destitute woman Sara Begum of Check Doadbugh village alleged before a judge in program of a social organization that money collected by Kashmir Crown after doing a story in her account was transferred by Chandoosa bank to the account of an agent of Kashmir Crown.
“They have cheated me and my money was taken from my bank account by agent of Kashmir Crown who is absconding by doing cheating as I am illiterate,” said the elderly lady in video clip viral on social media.
Meanwhile, Baramulla Working Journalist Association (BWJA) out rightly rejects any patronage or support to yellow journalism and demands harsh punishment to blackmailers who have been using social media to defame this noble profession.
In an extraordinary meeting presided over by Chairman BWJA Karamat Qayoom, BWJA members expressed concern over the growing misuse of social media by some seudo journalists. The BWJA has always discouraged such elements and had been supporting and encouraging the genuine Journalists only.
Sources said that there dozens of other allegations in which money has extorted from poor and needy people by the accused. The victims are coming forward to spill the beans.
Sources said that Lolab orphans was forced to pay Rs 8.50 lakh via cheques Rs 20000 and another chequ Rs650000 to Shahid Imran besides two kanals of land has been purchased by the Kashmir Crown on trust name at Kanispora where rate of the land is more than 50 lakhs per Kanal.
