On Red radar, Gaya RJD leader mulls winding up road project work

Days after a road construction firm camp office was attacked in Bihar’s Gaya district, its proprietor hinted that he was contemplating to wind up the job.

Bindi Yadav, owner of Ramia Construction Company, said he was facing threat to his life “for not paying Rs 50-lakh levy demanded by Maoists.” Suspected Maoists had targeted the camp office of his firm at Mahuain village in Barachatti police station when they burnt its machinery last Wednesday.

An RJD leader and former chairman of Gaya district board, Yadav is a co-accused in the May 7 Gaya road rage in which a class 12 student, Aditya Sachdeva, was killed for overtaking the SUV of Bindi’s son Rocky Yadav.

“I have been receiving calls from Maoists and have provided the phone numbers of callers to the Gaya police. I am actually caught between the devil and the deep sea. If I oblige the Maoists by paying the money, it will be a criminal offence in the eyes of the law. And if I fail to do so, my life and property will be at stake,” Yadav said.

The RJD leader said the Maoists had earlier attacked the camp office of his firm when it was engaged in construction of the Sobh-Dhangai road in the district on June 17 last year. Suspected Maoists beat up its munshi (accountant) and another employee for levy.

“The project was completed when I approached the police and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Garima Mallik provided us security,” Yadav added.

He said extremists targeted his other project, Ghoraghat-Dobhi road construction, on February 9. But the Gaya police ensured completion of the road, Yadav said.

“The Maoists also torched my petrol station on February 10 for levy. I have no option but to suspend road construction work as all my employees have fled for fear of extremists,” he said.

Yadav said CPI (Maoist), Tritiya Prastuti Committee and People’s Liberation Front of India were active in Gaya, which shared borders with Jharkhand. “We have been receiving threats from all three Maoist outfits. I have provided the numbers and names of the callers to the Gaya police,” he added.

The Gaya SSP said the Barachatti police had registered an FIR in connection with the attack on Yadav’s company office at Mahuain. “We are ready to provide security to firms engaged in construction of roads across district,” she said.

When asked about Maoists threat to construction firms, the SSP said, “If we receive any such complaint, we will immediately take action to ensure security,” she added.