Four arrested for extortion-related murder in Hazaribag

Police in Hazaribag have arrested four men linked to the murder of Kumar Gaurav, Deputy General Manager of the NTPC coal project. The arrests were made on Monday, following the killing on March 8. Gaurav was shot near Phataha Chowk while driving on the Hazaribag-Barkagaon road. The suspects include Mintu Kumar Paswan, who is accused of being the shooter. The other three arrested are Rahul Munda, Manoj Mali, and Ajay Yadav. The investigation revealed that the murder was part of an extortion plan by a gang previously led by a deceased criminal, Aman Sahu. Police believe the attack aimed to intimidate companies in the coal region, including NTPC, into paying illegal levies. Following the murder, Hazaribag police formed a special investigation team to solve the case. They used CCTV footage and mobile records to track the suspects. According to police, the gang had a monthly payment system and used a mobile app to organize their activities. They initially planned the attack for March 7 but delayed it due to increased police presence. The next day, they executed the plan, with Mintu firing from a motorcycle as Rahul and others observed for law enforcement. Authorities recovered a pistol, motorcycles, and various items discarded by the attackers during their escape. Police continue to investigate the case to uncover more details.