Police arrest 2 naxalites from Masaurhi

Vivek Hari

Patna : Police on July 10, 2018, arrested two members of banned naxal outfit People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) for making extortion demand from a construction company at Masaurhi in Patna district. Police claimed that a WhatsApp video call was made to the owner of Birampur Private Construction Company engaged in construction of a barrage on river at village Birra under Masaurhi Sub-Division. The estimated cost of the project is  around Rs 35 crore.

According to police, the WhatsApp call was made to the owner of the company Arun Kumar on May 21, 2018. The caller demanded 10% share of the total project cost. The owner was also threatened with dire consequences if he fails to pay the extortion amount.

Arun Kumar informed the police officers and lodged complaint with Masaurhi police station on May 22. A police team led by ASP (Operations) was constituted to capture those involved in demanding extortion from Arun Kumar. The team included Masaurhi SDPO and SHOs, Masaurhi and Dhanarua police stations. Police investigation indicated that the call was made from Gumla district in Jharkhand.

The arrested naxalites have been identified as Rakesh, a resident of Lekhanagar, Danapur, and Satyendra Kumar, a resident of Rajeev Nagar, Patna, according to a police officer. Police seized a pistol and two live rounds from their possession.