Praja Pratighatana naxals held on charge of extortion

ELURU: The police arrested two activists of the CPI (ML) Praja Pratighatana of the Chndra Pullareddy faction on Monday while allegedly indulging in extorting money from Alapati Vijayambika Prasad, a city-based businessman and brother of TDP former MLA. The accused identified as Rapaka Sriramulu alias Prasad of Badlada village and Ponugonti Venkateswara Rao of Rayaparthi in Warangal district allegedly asked Prasad to come to a designated place near Chodimella village on the city outskirts with Rs 50 lakh.
A special party of the police reportedly caught the naxals red handed while receiving money from Raja, according to district Superintendent of Police Bhaskara Bhushan. The police recovered a car, air pistol, three mobile phones with three SIM cards and a letter of the party signed by Prasad, general secretary of the CPI (ML) Pratighatana central provincial committee. The SP formed a special police party to nab the extortionists following a complaint lodged by Prasad.
Prasad, who runs an incense industry in the city, has been subjected to extortions for over 10 years and forced to pay Rs 18 lakh. He used to receive letters and threatening calls from the Naxals demanding money. In a similar manner, the two accused approached the victim on July 2 demanding Rs 50 lakh. Vexed with the latest incident, Prasad was constrained to approach the police with a request for protection as he was allegedly subjected to threats by the naxals.
The SP said the accused indulged in extortions in Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka states and allegedly collected Rs 30 lakh from realtors, business people and even employees in the last 10 years. The two accused were allegedly involved in extortion cases in Rajahmundry, Warangal and Khammam in the recent past. The SP said one of the accused Prasad worked as Youth congress leader and got elected as MPTC on the Congress ticket in Warangal district in the past.