Patna, Aug. 26: Extortionists in Patna's rural areas seem to have adopted the modus operandi of the Maoists to demand extortion money from affluent businessmen.

The new modus operandi of the alleged extortionists came to the fore when the Bihta police in Patna rural seized a handwritten pamphlet demanding Rs 10 lakh as extortion money from two businessmen brothers, who owned a rice mill on Amhara-Bikram road.

The station house officer (SHO) of Bihta police station, Raghav Dayal, said today that the leaflet allegedly issued by Yuva Sangathan had been seized and an FIR lodged against unknown persons. The leaflet was pasted on the boundary wall of the rice mill of Raju Singh and Aatish Singh, both residents of Amhara village in Patna district.

The two brothers - Raju and Aatish - were taken aback over the threat issued to them in the extortion letter. "If you want to do business in Bihta, then you have to pay Rs 10 lakh as extortion money to us. If the demand is not met, be ready to face the consequences," the threat letter seized by the police, said.

SHO Dayal said the police have taken the threat to the lives of the two brothers, who also owned a brick kiln near the rice mill, seriously and launched raids to nab the culprits. "We are on the job and the accused will be put behind bars soon," he told The Telegraph over phone today.

The SHO admitted that such an extortion demand had been made for the first time in rural parts of the district. "This is the modus operandi of the Maoists and not the extortionists. We are investigating the case from different angles," he added.

Raju reportedly told the police that he had not received any threat to his life or demand for extortion money earlier.

When contacted, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said the Bihta SHO had been asked to look into the matter and take proper action against the accused. "Prima facie it appears that somebody has committed a mischief by pasting a leaflet on the boundary wall of the rice mill. But the police will investigate the matter," he said.

The SSP, however, denied the involvement of any Naxalite outfit in the incident. "The Maoists don't hesitate in disclosing their identity as far demand of levy (read extortion) is concerned. But this is not the case with Bihta rice mill owners," Maharaaj said.