Lanjigarh: Armed Maoists Sunday shot dead a contractor on suspicion of his being an agent of Vedanta Aluminum and a police informer at a crowded market place in Pahadpadar village under Bijepur police limits under this block in Kalahandi district.
The deceased was identified as Rajendra Sahu of Borpadar village. The incident has sparked panic in the area. Even as the body lay at the spot all through the day, police are yet to reach the place when reports last came in.
The incident occurred when Sahu was making some purchases from the Sunday weekly haat around 12.30 pm. He was busy purchasing provisions when two saree clad women ultras and their two male accomplices went close to him and shot him from close range with a 9mm pistol hidden inside an umbrella, eye-witnesses said.
Sahu died at the spot after bullets pierced his back, stomach and head. People ran helter-skelter on hearing the gun fire and the ultras fled the scene. Family members rushed to the spot and informed Bijepur police while Kesinga SDPO Gupteshwar Bhoi is learnt to have gone near the CRPF camp for investigation.
The ultras left behind posters with Maoist Communist Party, Rayagada Area Committee written on it. The posters claimed that despite repeated summons Sahu did not come before Praja Court for hearing because of which he was shot dead by the PLGA.
PNN