RANCHI: In a bid to choke Naxal organizations in Jharkhand financially, the police have seized properties of 21 Maoists so far worth several crores.
Senior state police officials said that properties of several other Maoists were also under the scanner and they would be seized if the insurgents did not put down arms.
"So far we have seized properties of 21 Maoists in the State, the latest being Jharilal Mahto and Manoj Chaudhary in Giridih on July 17, who had acquired properties of more than Rs 2.23 crore through levy, extortion and other illegal sources," said IG (Operations) Ashish Batra.
“Properties of each and every Maoist in Jharkhand are being identified which will be seized one by one. However, if they surrender themselves before police, their properties will not be seized,” he added.
Batra said that CPI (Maoist) Manoj Chaudhary, who earlier used to sell parrots for a living who is still a BPL card holder, has amassed property worth crores in different parts of the State through extortion and levy collection after joining the Naxal organization.
He said that objective behind seizing the property of Maoists is to choke the flow of funds to Naxal organizations as the State Government believes that financial lifeline is important to running an organization.
"We will keep a tab on each and every financial activity of Maoists, right from their investments to education of their children, as they do not have any legal source of income,” he said.
The IG said that some of the cases where Maoists of other states were involved have been handed over to NIA.
Currently, NIA has been investigating the cases of Sudhakar Reddy, Jharilial Mahto and Manoj Chaudhary, he added.
"So far properties worth Rs 10 crore has been identified and seized by Jharkhand Police and properties worth several crores are being identified," said Batra.
Maoists against whom action has been taken so far are - Rohit Yadav, Nunuchand Mahto, Ranvijay Mahto, Satyanarayan Reddy, Kundan Yadav, Manoj Kumar, Abhijit Yadav, Ravindra Ganjhu of CPI Maoist along with eight members of Tritiya Prastutu Committee (TPC) - Regional Commander Akramak, Zonal Commandar Laxman Ganjhu, Shyam Bhokta, Jharilal Mahto and Manoj Chaudhary.
Action was also taken against members of other splinter group like People's Liberation of Front of India (PLFI) who are - Dinesh Gope, Zidan Gudia, Gujju Gope and Tilkeshwar Gope.