Police today arrested four extortionists who were posing as militants by brandishing toy pistols from two districts in Kashmir Valley.
Two persons who were masquerading as militants and extorting money from people in Seer village of Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district were arrested, a police spokesman said.
He said Tral police station was informed by some locals of the village that two persons had barged into a house and extorted Rs 10,000 at gunpoint.
Police swung into action and laid a cordon in the area, the spokesman said, adding that the two identified as Rafiq Ahmad Bhat alias Dada and Abdul Rashid Wani, residents of Tral, were arrested.
Police recovered a toy pistol, which almost resembles an actual pistol, from their possession, the spokesman said.
He said the duo was masquerading as militants and extorting money from people.
Police have registered a case and investigation has been started, the spokesman said.
In another case, police arrested two more extortionists and recovered a toy gun and pistol in Kreeri area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, the spokesman said.
One Sonaullah Wani, a resident of Kreeri complained to the police that on the intervening night of January 12 and 13, two extortionists robbed him of Rs 60,000 and ATM card at gunpoint.
Following the complaint, police registered a case and began investigating the matter following which they identified the culprits.
In a series of raids, Viqar Ahmad Bhat and Nisar Ahmad Sofi, both residents of Kreeri, were arrested.
Police recovered an artificial gun and pistol from their possession, the spokesman said.
