Jharkhand police seek Maoists' asset details

Jharkhand Police has sought details of assets of 40 Maoist guerrillas active in the state to confiscate their properties and bank accounts.

"A letter has been sent to all 24 districts Superintendents of Police (SP) and range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) to provide details of the Maoists. A list of 40 Maoist guerrillas belonging to different groups has been sent to districts for asset details," a police source told IANS on Saturday.

The names include Maoist commanders, leaders of banned Maoist groups - Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and others. The prominent Maoists belonging to CPI-Maoist include - Amit Munda, Suresh Munda and Akhilesh. The PLFI Maoists include - Dinesh Gope, Jedan Guria, Tilkeshwar and others.

Jharkhand Police has started gathering information of assets of Maoists so that the economic flow could be stopped. According to police sources, Maoists invest the money in real estate, land and other places. Maoists earn crores by collection levy from contractors and development work.

In past, police seized assets of more than 10 Maoists. Police also arrested businessmen investing the Maoist money at different places.

The police has also initiated a process to expedite trial of the arrested Maoists. The conviction rate of Maoists, according to police, is almost two to five per cent. Several guerrillas involved in killing of policemen and others have been acquitted in the past in absence of evidence.

Police headquarters has asked the SPs to ensure speedy trial of the cases related to Maoists.IANS