Jeypore: The police here arrested three persons from Bandhugaon area in Narayanapatna in Koraput district on a charge of extorting money from contractors by posing themselves as Maoists, Tuesday.
The three were S. Muralikrishna of Paralakhemundi and Talathu Hueika and Lokanath Pangi of Kelubada village.
As per reports, the trio had demanded Rs 20lakh each from the two contractors, by writing to them from a letter pad akin to the ones used by red rebels. The three threatened to torch vehicles engaged in construction work if the contractors failed to pay up the money.
The contractors informed the Koraput SP about the matter following which the Bandhugaon police laid a trap and arrested the accused.
PNN