Three held in Chandrapur's Durgapur for extortion at KVR firm; manager says they came to seek wages
Police say the trio demanded Rs 50,000 a month from a WCL contractor firm, but the complainant manager has told the media they had come asking for their pay.
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Three men have been arrested on charges of demanding extortion money at KVR company, which operates under Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), in Durgapur in Chandrapur. Those arrested are Ajay Kuchankar, Sumit Ramteke and Pawan Jadhav. A case was registered at Durgapur police station on October 7.
The action followed a complaint by the company's manager, Saiprakash Gajula. The case has since taken a new turn, as Gajula has told the media that the young men had come to demand their wages. Police are investigating further.
According to the police version, on October 7 Gajula called the police from the KVR company at Warwat, which falls under the Durgapur police station limits. He said some young men were creating a commotion at the company and demanding money. Durgapur police reached the company immediately, arrested Kuchankar, Ramteke and Jadhav and registered a case against them. However, it is being said that the matter is not as simple as it appears.
Police say the three are alleged to have said they would not let the company run, and that if it was to run, it must pay Rs 50,000 every month. Police said the action was taken on the manager's complaint.
The complainant, Gajula, has given the media a contrary account. He says the young men had come to ask for their wages and that the entire dispute arose from this. This raises the question of why an extortion case was registered against them if they had come to ask for wages, and, if they worked at the company, why they would need to demand extortion money. Police responded that Gajula had not understood the matter and therefore gave that information.
If the three accused did demand extortion money, action against them is warranted. But if the company pressed the case under pressure, it would be unjust. Those who work at a company and are not paid would naturally go to ask for their wages. Why an extortion case was registered in such circumstances remains unclear. Durgapur police are conducting further investigation.
