8 fake Reds held for extortion bid

KORAPUT: Police in Koraput district arrested a gang of eight persons on Thursday on charges of trying to extort money from a trader by identifying themselves as Maoists.
Police said five youths from Khairput area of Malkangiri district in association with three youths of Kundra had telephoned the trader Raju Sahu of Kundra and demanded Rs 5 lakh as extortion amount for the Maoist organization.
Threatening Sahu of dire consequences if he informed police, the fake extremists asked the trader to drop the money near Kaudiaguda high school, on the outskirts of Kundra, on Wednesday night.
"As the youths were continuously calling the trader, the latter suspected foul play and lodged a police complaint and an investigation was initiated. Tracking the mobile numbers of the callers, we chalked out a strategy to nab the miscreants," said SP (Koraput) Awinash Kumar.
"The miscreants were called to receive the extortion amount near Kaudiaguda and apprehended," he added. Police recovered Rs 20,000, sharp-edged weapons and a four-wheeler from their possession.
Police said during interrogation it was found that the youths don't have any link with Red rebels and were just trying to make a quick buck.