The Paradip police on Saturday arrested one Manas Behera, who was engaged by a contractor to threaten and demand extortion from another contractor.
The police seized a bike, four bombs and a bhujali from his possession after arresting Behera from a slum at Balial on the Paradip town outskirts. He is a resident of Jasipada in Kisannagar in Cuttack district.
Jagatsinghpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gadhadhar Pradhani said Purna Chandra Das, a contractor who undertakes contracts of the IFFCO, had applied for a project work. However, the work was allotted to another contractor, Sanatan Mallick.
“Furious over the contract allotment to Sanatan Mallick, Purna Chandra engaged Behera to threaten Mallick. So, Manas regularly phoned Sanatan and demanded extortion,” said the ASP.
Finding no alternative, Sanatan lodged an FIR at the Paradip police station. The police nabbed Manas tracking his mobile phone call records.
Pradhani said efforts were on to soon nab the accused contractor, who is on the run.