Srinagar/UNI Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two men posing as journalists for extorting money in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, officials said.

The police identified the duo as Sohail Maqbool of Bamiluna Kangan and Kaiser Farooq of Cheerwan Kangan.

Police said a written complaint was received by Police Station Gund on Friday from Gulzar Ahmed Kasana of Surfraw Gund Ganderbal, stating therein that two unknown persons posing as journalists arrived at his residence and demanded a bribe of Rs 5000 from him.

Kasana was constructing a residential house, and the two self-styled fake journalists took Rs 500 cash from him and asked him to pay the remaining amount of Rs 4500 after two days.

"Further, the duo asked the victim that if he failed to pay the said amount, then they would dismantle his house," the complainant told the police.

A team of Ganderbal police later arrested them for blackmailing and extortion, police said.

A case under relevant sections of the law was registered at Police Station Gund, and further investigation was taken up.

Police said for many days there were complaints that some boys on scooters with mobile phones and cameras in their hands were blackmailing and extorting the public in the general area of Gund.

Ganderbal Police has requested the general public not to fall prey to blackmailing and report such crimes to police so that culprits shall be nabbed effectively under relevant sections of law in future also.