2 Persons Arrested For Demanding Extortion As Fake Maoists In Odisha’s Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: Police have arrested two persons for allegedly demanding extortion money from a businessman claiming themselves to be Maoists in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district.

Police sources said Ramlal Harijan of Raspur village under Khuduku panchayat and Pilaram Harijan of Khuduku had gone the Aadhaar Kendra of Anil Kumar Ganta in Hatarabharandi on September 5. Ramlal and Pilaram claimed themselves to be Maoists and demanded Rs 50,000 from Anil.

The two fake Maoists threatened Anil that if the latter failed to pay the extortion money, they would paste posters in front of his shop and take him forcefully to Praja Court (kangaroo court) of the Maoists to decided his fate. Alarmed by the threat, Anil told them that he did not have the amount with him and asked them to come later to take the money.

Later, Anil filed a complaint at Kundei police station. The police registered a case and started investigation. The investigating team led by IIC of the police station Prasant Kumar Sethi came to know that Ramlal and Pilaram were imposters and were trying to extort money as Maoists.

After keeping a track on the movement of the two persons, the police arrested the duo. During questioning, both Ramlal and Pilaram admitted to the police that they were not Maoists and had resorted to the crime for money. The police have forwarded them to court.