Patna, Dec 15 (IANS) Bihar has initiated the process to confiscate the properties of 47 Maoists, a police official said Sunday.

"Order for confiscating the properties of nine of the 47 Maoists has been given by state Home Secretary Amir Subhani," a police official at the police headquarters here said.

Two months back, Bihar was the first state to begin the process of confiscating properties of half-a-dozen Maoists under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Impressed by the Bihar government's innovative move, the home ministry asked Maoist-affected states to follow Bihar's model of confiscating properties of rebel leaders.

All these states were asked to collect information about bank accounts and properties of Maoist leaders to start the process of confiscation.

"Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the confiscations at a meeting of chief ministers of Maoist-affected states in New Delhi," said a police official.

In October, police confiscated some land of Maoist leader Adhiklal Mandal in Munger district, acquired through illegal means.

Police officials said Maoist leaders have accumulated huge properties through extortion from proprietors of several private construction companies engaged in building roads and bridges and engaged in other development works in the rural areas of the state.