Dantewada, Sep 27 (ANI): Amid intense probe following reports quoting WikiLeaks that protection money was being given by Essar through contractors to Maoists, the Dantewada Police has taken into its custody the Company's General Manager DVCS Verma.
Verma, who was questioned and later arrested, has been accused of sedition.
The police had earlier this month arrested a local contractor B.K. Lala and Lingaram Kodopi on the suspicion that they were allegedly involved in illegal money transfer. The police seized an amount of Rs.150 000 from them.
It was suspected that the accused were transferring money to Maoists on behalf of Essar Steel Limited.
WikiLeaks had recently revealed that the Essar Group in Chhattisgarh is paying 'protection money' to outlawed Maoists to safeguard its operation.
Essar operates an eight million tonne per annum plant in Bailadila and iron dust from the National Mineral Development Corporation is converted into slurry and then sent to Visakhaptnam through pipeline, mainly in regions controlled by the Maoist ultras.
It may be recalled that the Maoist ultras have been demanding huge sums of money from traders and contractors in poverty-stricken Chhattisgarh's Dantewada District, thereby threatening of dire consequences in case of non-compliance.
Several locals have received extortion threats in the form of letters from Maoists, demanding as much as Rs.100, 000 as "protection money".
In fact, they often threaten locals to blow up their houses in case they do not receive the amount.
An atmosphere of fear and distress prevails in these villages. Tribals, threatened by Maoists, have been forced to leave behind their homes and their source of livelihood.
The Maoists also demand money from traders and contractors who receive money to carry out development projects. The development work in these areas gets stalled, leading to further impoverishment. (ANI)
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Read More: Dantewada | Chhattisgarh
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