A climate of fear has gripped Khunti district in Jharkhand following a violent extortion attempt by the banned People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI). Cadres from the organization fired upon a stone crusher unit and demanded a hefty sum of Rs 20 lakh from its owner.
The incident took place late Wednesday night in the Dugdugiya region, under the Sadar police station. According to official accounts, four armed militants associated with the PLFI stormed the crusher site, firing shots indiscriminately into the air to terrify the workers present. They then handed over a written ultimatum demanding Rs 20 lakh as protection money, often referred to as ‘levy,’ threatening severe consequences for non-compliance.
The threat letter specifically named Rajesh Yadav, identified as a zonal member of the PLFI, as the recipient of the demanded funds. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Varun Rajak, along with Sadar police station in-charge Mohan Kumar and a tactical police unit, responded immediately, securing the area and gathering evidence. Employees of the stone crusher unit provided their accounts to the investigating team.
Police have launched a manhunt in the surrounding areas, collecting preliminary evidence and attempting to locate the extremists. The gravity of the situation is amplified by a joint statement released on December 21 by the PLFI and the Bharatiya Jan Mukti Morcha, which proclaimed intentions to expand their operational footprint in the region, explicitly mentioning Rajesh Yadav’s appointment as zonal member for Khunti.
This resurgence of militant activity has deeply concerned local workers, traders, and residents, who are apprehensive about the re-establishment of extortion networks and the prevailing law and order challenges in Khunti.