Ranchi, Aug 5 (IANS): The fringe outfits of banned Maoist outfit, Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M), are turning out to be the biggest challenge for the police in Jharkhand.

CPI-M cadres that have left the party, have formed their own separate gangs.

There are more than 12 such small breakaway groups, including the Peoples' Liberation Front of India (PLFI), Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT), Jharkhand Sangharsh Morcha (JSM) operating in Ranchi, Garhwa, Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Lohardaga and Palamu districts.

These groups survive by extortion, arson, creating disturbances and even executing contract killings.

According to police sources, these organisations have executed 105 incidents of arson, firing and disturbance in the development works in the past 18 months.

"These groups are currently causing more damage than the CPI-M as they are not only accumulating wealth through extortion, but also using those funds to strengthen their organisation," a police source told IANS.

According to the police source, "These organisations collect illegal levy from coal traders, contractors and companies involved in coal mining, and indulge in arson and disturb coal transportation and other development works when not paid."

Since January this year, these organisations have been responsible for 57 per cent of deaths caused due to the Maoist violence.

During the same period, 22 ultras have been killed in 26 encounters between the police and the Maoists, mostly including the PLFI.