ED attaches assets of J'khand Naxal operatives under PMLA

The Enforcement Directorate said on Thursday that it has attached assets worth Rs 2.89 crore in connection with a money laundering probe initiated against alleged Naxal operatives of Jharkhand.

The attached assets include immovable and movable properties held in the name of Maoists like Binod Kumar Ganjhu, Pradeep Ram and their family members, the central probe agency said in a statement.

An order for provisional attachment of the properties has been issued by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"The immovable properties are located in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand and movable properties include cash of Rs 1.49 crore seized from the houses of accused persons, five vehicles worth Rs 89 lakh as well as bank balances in eight bank accounts totalling to Rs 35.18 lakh," it said.

The money laundering probe case pertains "to illegal collection of levy from the contractors and coal merchants through criminal extortion and intimidation in Magadh-Amrapali coal area in Chatra district of the state by members of banned Left Wing Extremist organisation Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC)."