Naxalites shoot dead a village head in Malkangiri

Malkangiri, Oct 13 (UNI) The body of a village headman locally called ''mukhia'', shot dead by armed naxalites late last night, was discovered this morning near MV 66 village, about 50 km from here.

Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Yatindra Koyal said armed Naxalites numbering more than 20 came to the house of Kartik Ray late last night and inquired about his identification.

When Mr Ray introduced himself as the village head they invited him to come out of the house for a discussion. But Mr.Ray protested saying that at this hour he would not move out of his house.

The armed naxalites then dragged him from his house despite protest from his family members and took him to a nearby jungle.

The family members frantically searched him to locate but in vain However, this morning his body was found lying near a road side three km away from the village. Police soon after the incident launched a combing operation to trace the naxalites.

A handwritten letter left by the naxalites near the body said the village headman was killed as he was a police informer. They also warned the villagers that all police informer would also face the similar consequence.

UNI XC DP SJC SRS PM0044