Village committee members arrested for extortion from belt shop operators in Adilabad

Police in Adilabad arrested two VDC members and booked others in separate cases for allegedly extorting money from belt shop operators. Authorities warned of strict action against those permitting illegal liquor trade under the guise of development activities.

Adilabad: In three separate incidents, two members of village development committees (VDCs) were arrested, while three others were booked for their alleged involvement in extorting money from operators of belt shops or unauthorised liquor outlets in the district on Friday.

Police said N Srinivas and Daratla Janardhan were apprehended for threatening a belt shop operator and extorting Rs 30,000 from him at Kuchulapur village in Thalamadugu mandal. Another accused, Gangareddy, was absconding. The committee had reportedly auctioned the belt shop for Rs 4.60 lakh.

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Meanwhile, a case was registered against three members of another VDC for allegedly demanding Rs 2.60 lakh from a trader to operate a belt shop at Sayilingi village. In a similar incident, members of a VDC were booked for allegedly demanding Rs 2.40 lakh from another trader to allow him to organise a belt shop at Palsi (B) village.

Police warned that stringent action would be taken against those collecting money under the guise of developmental activities or construction of temples by permitting people to indulge in unlawful activities such as sand mining and the illegal trade of liquor and toddy.