In two separate cases, the Gadchiroli police has arrested five persons including a member of the International Human Rights Federation for extorting money from prominent businessmen in the district.
On Sunday, the police arrested Sukeshni Vilas Chunarkar (35), who tried to extort `5 lakh from Vyankatesh Bomavar (54), a contractor from Aheri area in Gadchiroli. “Chunarkar posed as a Naxal and threatened to kidnap and kill Mr Bomavar if he did not pay her. We are trying to find out whether she has any other accomplices,” said an officer from Gadchiroli. Chunarkar has been remanded to police custody till July 10.
In another incident in Aheri on Thursday, the police arrested four persons, who posed as Naxals and tried to extort money from businessmen and contractors. The police has arrested Srinivas Vyankatesh (30), Jagan Pirla (38), Vyankati Kothari (30), and Somaiya Durgam (35). “They were trying to extort money from two prominent businessmen from the Allapalli area. Vyankatesh is a member of Interna-tional Human Rights Federation,” said a police officer.
The Gadchiroli police has also arrested two persons — Vijay Furge and Lalita — for women trafficking in Andhra Pradesh by luring them with
good job offers. “We arrested the two after we received a tip-off,” the officer said.