Two ex-Maoists held for extortion

Two former naxals were today arrested at Godavarikhani in Peddapalli district for allegedly threatening businessmen and contractors and extorting money from them, police said.
The duo-- Mancharla Srinivas(39) of Mandamarri and Ambala Rajamallu (42) of Bellampalli in Mancherial district-- were former members of the Sikasa (Singareni Karmika Samakhya), a Maoist front, Godavarikhani I town circle inspector G Krishna said.
Ramagundam police arrested the duo based on a tip-off, the officer said.
"In the past, the duo had been jailed and released on bail around 10 years back. Ever since their release, they had been working in Singareni coal mines," he said.

However, in the recent times, the duo had started threatening businessmen and contractors and extorting money in the name of Sikasa, the inspector added.
"A cash of Rs 82,000 and two dummy pistols were seized from them," Krishna said.
A case was registered and the duo was produced before a local magistrate, he said.
Further investigation into the case is on.