Post News Network
Rayagada, July 28: A scribe was arrested Tuesday on the charge of extorting Rs 5 lakh from a gram panchayat executive officer impersonating as a Maoist, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Y Jagannath said addressing a press meet here at the police station.
Acting on the complaint lodged by Ajit Kumar Hota of Ashok Nagar here, the police arrested Ajit Kumar Batria of Gadabaguda under Chandili police limits, Jagannath said, adding, a new motorcycle, a laptop and the mobile used in the crime were also seized from his possession. He was produced in a court, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days, the SDPO added.
According to the case diary, Hota works as a village level worker (VLW) in Kolnara panchayat. He received a call on his mobile June 2 where the caller, introducing himself as an ultra, demanded Rs 2 lakh. The caller also warned to harm his family if his demands were not met. Left with no option, Hota, as per the instructions of the caller left Rs 2 lakh at a culvert near Keutaguda railway station June 10.
After a few days, he received another call from the same mobile June 18. This time the caller introduced himself as a Maoist leader of Bihar and demanded Rs 3 lakh. The ‘leader’ threatened to kill him and his family if the cash was not paid, said the complaint. Getting scared, the VLW again kept the demanded ransom Saturday at the previous location following the caller’s instruction.
However, he lodged a written complaint Monday with the police this time after obliging the caller.
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and tracked the mobile number of the ‘Maoist’. Police during the investigations found that Batria, a news reporter of a daily was using the mobile phone.
Later, the police raided his house Tuesday and seized the items which were bought using the extortion money. The balance amount would be recovered after the investigations are completed, the SDPO said.
According to the police, the accused scribe in the past too had extorted money from several people impersonating as an ultra.