Patna, Nov. 18: With the levy collection and complaints of sexual exploitation of women CPI (Maoist) cadre going north, young rebels have started spending lavishly on commercial sex workers.

Rebels hailing from bordering areas of Sheohar, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran districts reportedly frequent red-light areas. They also enjoy mujra and dance to the beats of popular Bhojpuri and Bollywood numbers.

A group of squad members of the CPI (Maoist) visited the red-light area at Chaturbhujsthan in Muzaffarpur recently. They enjoyed mujras performed by dance girls. They danced, too.

Sources in the intelligence agencies confirmed the visit of the Maoists to red-light areas of Muzaffarpur on a regular basis.

“A report was sent to the state police headquarters on a visit paid by the Maoists to Chaturbhujsthan red-light area of Muzaffarpur town in the last week of August,” a police officer said.

He said newly recruited Maoists aged between 17 and 25 were spending lavishly on dance girls as they mostly remained away from their homes.

“The instructions issued by the central committee of the organisation after complaints of sexual exploitation of women cadre have propelled them to take an alternative route to de-stress themselves,” the officer pointed out.

According to a rough estimate, Rs 14-15 crore is collected as levy from Sheohar district alone. With a part of it reaching the lower-rung members of the organisation, the young rebels have started enjoying their nightlife away from hideouts.

The intelligence agencies were surprised to find the cadre issuing parchas (receipt) of money collected as levy to the contractors and businessmen of the district. Bharat Thakur is said to be in-charge of the accounts of levy collection from bordering areas of Sheohar and Muzaffarpur districts.

The sources said the money collected from the four districts, including Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran, is handed over to one Rajan, a sub-zonal commander of North Bihar Regional Committee.

Some of the receipts of money collected as levy from influential businessmen bore the signature of one Dheeraj. As per the norms, the challan (receipt) is issued only after the payment and it carries the signatures of at least two authorised members of the organisation.

The organisation’s regional committee members at times pay extra commission to the cadre assigned to collect levy, the sources said.