Two persons were arrested for allegedly demanding ransom from a meat seller in the district, police said today.
"The complainant Kasamali Mohammad Sharif Qureshi is in the business of supplying 'buffalo meat' to customers at Mira Road, nearby Thane and in Mumbai. He used to transport the meat to these places from Thane, Kalyan and Bhiwandi", said Sub Inspector Girish Balchim of Naya Nagar police station.
Last week, the accused, Salim Aziz Qureshi of Malad and Prasad Dandekar of Palghar, called him and said he was illegally transporting the meat, the SI added.
They demanded a ransom of Rs 25,000 per month and threatened to lodge a police complaint if he failed to give them the amount, Balchim said.
Following the complaint, a trap was laid by the police and the accused were apprehended on Tuesday while they were about to accept the ransom, he said.
The third accused Sunil Bhilare is on the run and efforts are on to nab him. A case under section 385 (extortion) of IPC has been registered and investigations are underway, police said.
Selling of buffalo meat is allowed in Maharashtra.
