Police on Saturday arrested three persons for allegedly trying to extort money from a trader by posing as Maoists in Rayagada district. The accused were identified as Rajendra Rout, Sanjit Naik and Arun Bagho.
According to police, the trio had pasted a fake Maoist poster at the home of a trader identified as Ram Murty Naik of D Karolo village under Doragura police limits in Kashipur block on August 30 and had demanded Rs 20 lakh from him.
“The miscreants had asked Naik to bring the money to a forested road near Ghoda Tikri village on August 31. But when the trader did not obey their instructions, the fake Maoists telephoned Naik and threatened him of dire consequences,” said IIC (Doragura police station) Ramesh Chandra Bisoi.
According to the police officer, a mobile phone used by the trio was traced and subsequently they were arrested. During interrogation it was found that the accused didn’t have any link with the Maoists and had identified themselves as rebels to make quick buck. While Arun and Sanjit work as drivers at the Utkal Alumina company, Rajendra stays at Tikri.
