Three persons impersonating as People liberation Front of India (PlFI) members and collecting ransom from locals through extortion were arrested by the Raiboga police of Sundargarh district on Thursday evening. However, another member of the gang is absconding and police have launched a hunt to nab him.
The arrested persons have been identified as Rajendra Kusma (25) and his brother Kalindra Kusma (22) of Jaykudar village and Dilip Tirkey (22) of Rajgangur. They were forwarded to court on Friday. The absconder is one Pawan Kerketta, the police said.
According to police, this group had collected Rs 70,000 from one Bhimsen Soreng of Jayakudar village under Raiboga PS. Similarly, they had demanded Rs 80,000 from Marianus Kido, Sarpanch of Majhapada. Kido had paid Rs 50,000 to them.
The accused had also asked for Rs 1 lakh from one Jayprakash Kido, a teacher of Raiboga area, and on July 7, he had paid this amount, the police said. Besides, they had also demanded Rs 3 lakh from one Jangli Sahu of Dalki village, following which he had coughed up Rs 50,000, the police added. Acting on a tip-off, police on Thursday nabbed the three accused.
Rajendra Kusma was the mastermind behind this extortion racket. During their act, the accused were using an air rifle to threaten the victims. The firearm was also seized by the police, besides the mobile phone being used by the gang to threaten people.
“The three arrested accused have been forwarded to court. We are in the look out for the Pawan Kerketta and he will be arrested soon,” Birmitrapur SDPO PC Routray said. On the other hand, a group of 20 infuriated PlFI members had burnt the house of Rajendra Kusuma at Jaikudar village under the Raiboga PS on Saturday night.