The Keonjhar police arrested 13 persons on the charges of extortion and other criminal activities on Thursday night by raiding different places simultaneously. The arrested persons were sent to the judicial custody on Friday.
Out of the 13 arrested, ladu Munda, Krishna Chandra Palei, Bidyadhar Mahakud, Dukhadev Sarkar, Satyananda Karua, Girija Sankar Sahoo, Arjun Kalandi, Md Ifpiyak, Prahallad Mahakud, Mangulu Mahakud, Birabar Mahakud and Surendra Mahakud are said to be close associates of Champua Independent MlA Sanatan Mahakud and are directly or indirectly involved in mining business.
In connection with the alleged mining business run by Mahakud, they were involved in illegal activities and creating law and order problems in the district since long sources said.
Nobody had taken any action against them before for the fear of money and muscle power. After the joining of Rajesh Pandit as the SP, this is the major arrest of the people involved in mining activities.
After the High Court’s refusal to grant interim bail to MlA Mahakud in a case of his alleged torture of a woman claiming to be his daughter-in-law, his close associates’ arrest has added to his problem.