6 suspected Maoists arrested on extortion charges in Bihar

Muzaffarpur, April 18: Six suspected Maoists were today arrested from Sheohar, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts of Bihar on the charges of alleged extortion.

The operation was conducted by police teams from here, after complaints were received that a few persons had demanded 'levy' or extortion money from brick kiln owners.

Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said, "Our men nabbed three persons from Sheohar district, two from Muzaffarpur and one from Sitamarhi. All of them are connected with each other and we have verified it with their mobile call details."

SSP said the six were being interrogated

The SSP said these persons had demanded 'levy' from brick kilns under Hathauri police station area in Muzaffarpur district and threatened their owners of dire consequences if the demands were not met.

"They had, in fact, written to the brick kiln owners on CPI (Maoist) letterheads demanding levy and giving reference about previous decisions taken regarding it at their meetings. We acted on the complaint from the kilns," Mishra said.

The SSP said the six were being interrogated.

PTI