Ranchi archbishop tormentor arrested

A man was today arrested for allegedly threatening Ranchi archbishop Telesphore P Toppo with dire consequences if his demand for Rs five crore was not met, police said here.

Devesh Dutta alias Johnny in a letter on May 18 demanded Rs five crore posing himself as an area commander of ultra outfit PLFI, was arrested from a village in Dumka district, a police official said.

Dutta had a land dispute with Amit, a resident of Seoli in West Bengal's Birbhum district, and asked Toppo to hand over the money to him, district Superintendent of Police Anup T Mathew said.

Dutta also gave Toppo Amit's cell phone number, he said.
 

Dutta had sent similar extortion letters under an alias Michael Raj Kujjur to two businessmen brothers - Bishop of Dumka and BDO of Sahebgunj, Mathew said, adding that Dutta was known to the two persons.