Four Maoists Arrested in Ranchi for Planning Rs 1 Crore Extortion

Ranchi: Ranchi Police on Monday apprehended four active members of the banned CPI (Maoist) group who were allegedly preparing to extort ?1 crore from local businessmen, contractors, and brick kiln owners.

DIG and SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha revealed that the arrested Maoists—Yogendra Ganjhu alias Pawan, Mukesh Ganjhu, Manu Ganjhu, and Rajkumar Nahak—were caught near the Bakshi Bangla Chatti river in the Khalari and McCluskieganj areas after a tip-off.

The police recovered a loaded country-made pistol, three live cartridges, Maoist propaganda material, and mobile phones used in the extortion scheme.

Yogendra Ganjhu, active in Maoist operations since 2006, has over 10 serious criminal cases registered in Latehar, Balumath, Garu, and Panki. He was last released from jail in 2022. Mukesh Ganjhu also has multiple cases across Palamu, Latehar, and Lohardaga and is believed to be a core member of the Maoist extortion network.

Police stated that on June 25, this group had threatened a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) staffer, demanding ?1 crore with a deadline of July 2. A corresponding FIR had been filed at Khalari police station.

SSP Sinha affirmed continued action against Maoist activity, stating, “Those involved in extortion and Maoist violence will not be spared.”

With inputs from IANS