Malkangiri: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the Union home ministry has formed a multitasking force to track the sources of income and expenditure of top four Maoist leaders of the state, a report said.
The ED made the move after the massive earnings of Bihar and Jharkhand Mao leaders came to light last year, it was learnt.
According to sources, the rebel leaders mobilise huge amounts of funds by extorting contractors, mine owners, transport agencies and small and medium industrial units. Though they collect the funds in the name of strengthening the organisation, they mostly spend it on buying luxuries for them. This has drawn the attention of the directorate.
The Mao leaders who are under ED scanner were Uday of Malkangiri division of CPI (Maoists), Kalimela Dalam leader Arjun, Kudumulugumma committee secretary Sudhir and Koraput-Srikakulum division woman Mao leader Aruna.
On the other hand, Bharat Bhusan, the convener of Naxal Birodhi Hinsamukt Odisha Abhiyan, an anti-Maoist outfit demanded that the government should have the detailed information about the Maoists leaders including their sources of earnings, their utilization, the standard of living of their families and the education of their children.
The evidence of illegal amassing of wealth by the Maoist leaders came to light in 2017 after Bihar-Jharkhand special area committee member Pradyumna Sharma spent Rs 22 lakh for the admission of his niece in a private college.
Similarly, Sandip Yadav, another member of the same organisation, also exchanged Rs 15 lakh during demonetisation while another top Mao leader Arabinda Yadav paid Rs 12 lakh to enroll his brother in a private college.
ED not only registered cases against these rebel leaders, it seized properties worth Rs 1.5 crore from their possession.
In view of massive extortion by the rebels from traders, contractors and small industrialists, the Union home ministry has started tightening its noose around the left wing extremist leaders by collecting information on them.
The ministry has formed a force comprising various Central agencies, police of states, enforcement directorate, NIA, CBI, state intelligence wings and CID to stop the flow of funds and confiscate the illegal assets of top Mao leaders.
When contacted, state police DG RP Sharma said two meetings have been held at Delhi over Maoists’ funding. Next course of action would be taken according to the decision of the enforcement directorate, he added.
