Lecturer poses as Maoist, held

RAIPUR - A lecturer has been arrested in Chhattisgarh for pretending to be a Maoist and seeking Rs.10 crore from the director of an engineering college where he works, police said Saturday.

Premshankar Sharma, 25, was arrested in Durg late Friday after he demanded the money in four instalments from Sourabh Rungta, director of the Rungta College of Engineering and Technology in Bhilai, some 30 km from Raipur.

Sharma sent a letter and a series of e-mail to Rungta since May 22. He threatened to kill students and staff and blow up the college building if the amount was not paid.

The state police teamed up with the Intelligence Bureau and made the arrest. Sharma holds a degree in B.Tech and is a resident of Jharkhand, Durg district Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar told IANS.

Sharma said he wanted to become a millionaire overnight.