The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP has suspended a senior leader, district president of South Kashmir’s Pulwama, after the J&K Police booked him in an alleged extortion case following a complaint from a Central Kashmir resident.As per the complaint received by the J&K Police, the BJP leader had threatened the complainant that he would use his “position/influence” to get the stringent Public Safety Act slapped “if the complainant failed to oblige his illegal demands”.An order issued by J&K BJP General Secretary M Anwar Khan said that on the recommendation of Jattvibeil Sethi, Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, BJP J&K, and in consultation with MP Sat Sharma, President, BJP J&K, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi, District President, BJP Pulwama, “in view of the FIR alleging extortion registered against him”.The order said pending finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings, Gayoor Andrabi is “hereby suspended from all organisational posts and responsibilities of BJP, including the post of District President, Pulwama, with immediate effect”.“The party reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, integrity and morality in public life,” it said.The suspension order came hours after the J&K Police registered a case following a complaint by a Budgam resident against the BJP leader for “extortion, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, intentional insult and repeated illegal demands” in connection with “legally permitted extraction and transportation of soil”, and for recovery of extorted money amounting to Rs 54,000.According to the complaint, on August 8, the accused came to the work/extraction site at Parigam in South Kashmir, where vehicles of the complainant were engaged in transportation of soil for Gurdwara Parbandhak, Barthana.It said the accused “deliberately parked his personal vehicle in front of the vehicles of the complainant, thereby physically obstructing their movement and preventing the complainant and his drivers from proceeding with their lawful work”.The complaint further said the accused threatened the complainant that “he would use his position/influence and get the PSA slapped against the complainant if the complainant failed to oblige his illegal demands”.“The accused has been using the threat of action under the Public Safety Act as a means of intimidating and coercing the complainant into complying with his unlawful monetary demands,” the FIR states.The J&K Police in South Kashmir’s Pulwama has now booked Andrabi under various sections of the BNS.