In a first official estimate of the CPI(Maoist) “extortion” industry, the Centre has pegged the Maoists income at not less than `140 crore running up to `250 crore annually.
A confidential report, based on a government-sponsored study, says that such income is being generated by the banned outfit from a variety of sources which includes “small and big industries, contractors, corrupt government officials and political leaders”. The largest and principle sources of generation of Maoists’ income being the mining industry, PWD works and collection of tendu leaves.
The report points out that a considerable amount is being spent to strengthen the Maoists “war machinery’’ by acquiring weapons, ammunition and explosives from the grey market, even as the outfit is adopting ingenious ways to store and stash away money and ensure its safety.
In areas where the rebels are having a free-run, large amounts are being packed neatly in multiple layers of polythene kept inside a metal box and then dropped in syntax tanks which are then stacked away in dumps in forests. In some cases, the money has also been converted into gold biscuits. The report , based on field visits to Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa earlier this year , says that even while there is no evidence yet to suggest Maoists are investing money in business or in the stock market, the study found that the rebels may be giving money to real estate agents even as reports from Jharkhand indicated some money may have been deposited in banks.
In some other cases, the Maoists have purchased vehicles to give their supporters. They are also spending a small portion of money on “development works’’ in their base areas where they are running a parallel government which they call “janata sarkars’’.
However, in these villages the Maoists are collecting what they call “revolutionary taxes’’ from the people.