Mining Payoffs Seen Funding Maoists

Indian officials say that Maoist insurgents are being funded by the mining industry.

The government may direct the National Investigation Agency to probe illegal mining, reports the Calcutta Telegraph.

A law under consideration would authorize the government to terminate leases of companies engaged in illegal operations and those paying Maoists or other insurgents protection money to leave their operations alone.

Such payments are thought to represent a major source of...