Ranchi, Aug. 18 -- A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jharkhand's Ranchi on Tuesday pronounced sentences against 12 accused persons relating to extortion and collection of levy from coal transporters, contractors and businessmen in the Amrapali-Magadh coal mining areas of the state for raising funds for the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC).

NIA (National Investigation Agency) said TPC had armed cadres affiliated with Naxals and that its members, in connivance with local committees, businessmen, transporters and officials, were part of a criminal conspiracy to collect levy in exchange for allowing the mining and transportation of coal from the coal fields in Jharkhand.

Of the 12 accused sentenced, five were giv...