Extortion has become an industry in Bihar. Unemployment, declining investments, corrupt police and judiciary, the criminal-politician nexus and the caste fractured society together provide grist for the extortion industry.

An analysis of the extortion industry informs that its targets belong to three categories. The primary target is the affluent trading/business class. Besides, they generally pay the ransom without even lodging a FIR, as they cannot fight the politician-police-criminal nexus. Hence they are forced to reconcile to paying “business charges”. But the increasing frequency of kidnappings and rising extortion amounts has left them with no option but to gradually wind up their business in Bihar, since this community largely comes from other states.

The second target is upper caste wealthy individuals. Extorting from the upper castes has the approval of many in the lower castes. Targeting this category serves three purposes. It helps the criminals make quick money; provides a justification for the extortionists in the name of social justice, and provides them a social and economic platform to enter politics. They try to project themselves as ‘Robinhoods’, but only add to the criminalisation of Bihar society.

The third target is officials either of the state or central governments. The extortionists mainly belong to the caste militia and various naxal outfits. Kidnapping is done to cow down the government to meet their demands. However, there has been a considerable decline in targeting officials as the government machinery has frustrated the extortionists, by their inefficiency! 

The main reason for individuals resorting to extortion in Bihar is increasing unemployment, due to failure of governance. Many colleges in Bihar have been “selling” degrees and “manufacturing” youth who think they deserve a job. Besides, the falling level of private investment in the state has also led to the flourishing extortion business. Private investment has been decling in Bihar since the last decade, owing to rampant corruption at all levels, and breakdown of law and order machinery. Not only has the investment rate declined, but many medium and small business houses, have closed down and shifted to other states, affecting a major source of local employment. Unable to get employment coupled with early marriage and increasing number of children to feed, the youth get channeled in to the extortion business.

The police and judiciary must also share the blame for the extortion racket in Bihar. The police force is inefficient and inadequate and people have lost faith in it, so a large number of cases go unreported. Even, if a case is reported to the police, and the culprit is nabbed, the culprits are let off within a few hours flaunting a legal bail bond obtained by bribing the judiciary. When set free, they pose greater threat to the family or person due to their desire for revenge. The government rarely provides security to the affected family.

The politicians domesticate this breed of the criminals and have a perfect understanding with them as they need their muscle and money power. Criminals resort to extortion, make money, pay the politicians and enjoy freedom of action. To win elections the same set of criminals are hired by the political mafia to capture election booths. With practically no governance in Bihar it is the people who pay the price.

The implications of extortion are many. It has led to the growth of hatred and mistrust among caste groups. Elected candidates keep this hatred alive by supporting revenge kidnappings and killings to prove their loyalty towards their caste. In this scenario, development takes a back seat. The state is suffering economically. There is no outside investment and there is no investment by the state government for lack of funds. This is resulting in few employment opportunities and the unemployed youth turning to extortion as a means of livelihood.

Thus extortion and lack of governance has become a cycle, one leading to the other. The politicians, the police and a section of society work together in cohesion, and share the dividends. The politicians who have to spend a fortune during the elections try to recoup their requirements for the next elections by getting a share of the extorted money. The police assure the kidnapper of safety in return for a share of his pie. The fractured society is the last to bother if the victim belongs to another caste!