EXTORTION RACKET OPERATING

EXTORTION RACKET OPERATING

11-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA-------------------------The extortion racket being run under the guise of *Sairat* (market/toll) collection by the Kaimur district's Kudra Nagar Panchayat tender holder—with the tacit support of officials—threatens to turn violent. It is important to note that stopping vehicles on major roads—such as National Highways, State Highways, or Main District Roads—or immediately alongside them to collect *Sairat* or *Tahbazari* (market fees) is entirely illegal. Regulations regarding *Sairat* collection—applicable to village markets, fairs, or parking zones—clearly prohibit such collection on main roads. Even citing a tender from the municipal body or Zila Parishad does not legitimize the collection of parking fees from vehicles passing along main roads; such acts are strictly illegal and amount to extortion. Yet, the Kudra Nagar Panchayat tender holder, brazenly flouting the law and backed by administrative officials, continued the extortion racket for the third consecutive day. They collected fees under the pretext of *Sairat* collection at locations including the National Highway 19 stretch and the Kudra-Bhabhua turn.

Furthermore, journalists are facing repeated threats from the miscreants involved in this racket for exposing the gang's activities. Consequently, the possibility of a violent, bloody incident cannot be ruled out.

Meanwhile, local officials have been trading accusations against one another regarding the matter. Despite the illegal collection becoming a hot topic in the media since last Thursday, the extortion racket persisted into the third day. This clearly indicates the indirect complicity of local officials in the extortion scheme. Some media outlets prominently report the apprehension of a couple of drunkards or the seizure of a liter or two of alcohol; yet, the fact that news of such massive extortion—openly taking place in broad daylight and being the talk of the town for three days—is completely missing from the newspapers proves that they, too, have a share in the spoils.