Mastermind Of Extortion Bid On Keonjhar’s Ardent Steel Plant Arrested

Keonjhar: Police have arrested four persons, including the mastermind, of the alleged extortion attempt on Ardent Steel Limited (ASL) plant located at Phuljhar village in Keonjhar district.

The mastermind, Abdul Gafur Ahmad of Joda, was nabbed on Friday. Three others, identified as Bablu Singh Khuntia of Chainbasa in West Singhbum, Durga Charan Munda and Trilochan Munda, both natives of Joda, were arrested earlier on May 17.

These four were arrested following several raids in Odisha and Jharkhand.

While a four-wheeler, three country-made guns and two cellphones were recovered from Ahmad, the seizure from the other three included a pistol, three cellphones, a motorcycle and Rs 50,000.

According to police, the four had been extorting money from big industrial house by posing as Maoists and involved in such other cases in Jhar. They had mastered the lingo, style and looks of the ultras.

On April 21, 20 people dressed up as uniformed cadres of outlawed CPI (Maoist), carrying fire arms and weapons, reached the premises of the plant and handed over a letter to the security personnel on duty.

The letter issued in the name of the Western Sub Zonal Committee of the outfit accused the plant authorities of polluting the environment and levied a sum of Rs 3 crore to be paid within three days. It further warned them against approaching police to avoid an action by the outfit.