Extortion Racket Spreads Terror in Jharkhand, Opposition Alleges

A severe crackdown on the state government has been initiated by Babulal Marandi, the BJP State President and Leader of Opposition, who is fiercely condemning the rising tide of crime and unchecked audacity of criminals in Jharkhand. He pointed out that the illegal ‘levy’ or extortion business has spiraled out of control. This reign of terror, purportedly linked to an alleged criminal based overseas, has spread its tentacles from Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Jamshedpur all the way to the capital city, Ranchi. During his recent extensive tours, Marandi heard firsthand accounts of this menace from citizens in Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, and numerous other localities. Many established business owners, speaking in hushed tones, disclosed being targeted for exorbitant sums of 5 to 10 crore rupees, their fear preventing them from even disclosing their names. The alarming escalation is evident in the recent extortion attempt against a highly respected and well-known doctor in Ranchi, who received threats demanding millions. This situation unequivocally points to a complete breakdown of law and order, casting a dark shadow over the state government’s governance. Marandi emphasized that the government has the power to bring fugitive criminals back to justice, regardless of their foreign hideouts. If direct apprehension is challenging, he stressed the urgent need to arrest their operatives within the state. He speculated that this operation might be running with the implicit or explicit backing of the Chief Minister and top police brass, enabling them to issue threats and collect funds as they please. Alternatively, he posited that the state government and its police force are rendered ineffective and fear-stricken by this criminal onslaught. Businessmen and medical professionals across Jharkhand are now enduring life under a constant pall of dread. Marandi issued a decisive ultimatum, urging the state government to take swift and decisive action against the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He warned that inaction would lead the opposition to conclude that the government is complicit in this widespread extortion.