Naxals extort Rs 140 crore annually from traders, corporates

Naxals have been extorting money to the tune of Rs 140 crore annually from contractors, businessmen and corporate houses besides their front organisations are suspected to be receiving foreign funds clandestinely.
"Though an exact quantification of their finance is not possible, it has been assessed in a study conducted by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, Delhi, that the CPI-Maoist has been collecting not less than Rs 140 crore annually from a variety of sources," Minister of State for Home RPN Singh informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.
He also said possibility of certain front organisations of CPI(Maoist) clandestinely getting foreign funds cannot be ruled out.

Singh said the main source of funds for the Maoists include extortion from 'tendu patta' contractors, extortion from infrastructure/ development work contractors, 'levy' from businessmen and corporate houses.
In addition, they rob banks and public and private properties to augment their finances.
"The Left Wing Extremists groups, particularly the CPI (Maoist), extort considerable 'levy' from various illegal mining mafia groups in Naxal-affected states," the minister said.