JMM MP Sunil Mahto shot dead ; Jharkhand 'bandh'

Jamshedpur, Mar 5: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP from Jamshedpur Constituency Sunil Mahto and another party leader Prabhakar Mahto along with two bodyguards were shot dead by CPI (Maoist) activists at Baguria village near naxalite-affected Ghatshila in East Singhbhum district tonight.

East Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Pankaj Darar said Mahto had gone to attend a football match as chief guest in the village when hundreds of armed naxalites gheraoed the area and pounded the MP. They opened fire on Mahto from a close range, killing him on the spot.

The two bodyguards of Mahto, Deep Raj and Sahdeo Raj Shastri, were also killed on the spot while JMM Ghatshila Block Secretary Prabhakar Mahto was critically injured and was declared brought dead when he was rushed to the Tata Main Hospital here, Mr Darar said.

According to the driver of Mahto and eye witness, Kaushik, who escaped narrowly, told mediapersons here that the ultras set on fire the car of Mahto after killing him.

He said there were also women rebels equipped with sophisticated arms. The ultras were shouting slogans against the police administration, he added.

The bodies of Mahto and the two bodyguards were brought to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital here for post mortem.

Meanwhile, the JMM has declared Jharkhand 'bandh' tomorrow to protest against the killing of Mahto and three others.

Jharkhand Land Reforms Minister and MLA from Jugsalai, Dulal Bhuiyan, said emergency services and examinations would be exempted from tomorrow's state-wide 'bandh'.

Mr Bhuiyan and Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto rushed to the spot soon after the incident but they were prevented 10 km away from the spot due to security reasons.

Mr Darar and other top police officials went to the spot to bring the dead body of Mahto and two of his bodyguards.

Meanwhile, security was intensified in the naxalite-affected areas following the incident, Mr Darar said.

Mahto was an influential leader of the JMM and played an important role in the formation of Madhu Koda-led UPA government in the state.

UNI

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