Maoists kill timber merchant in Orissa

Baripada, Apr 12: Maoists shot dead a timber merchant in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district and issued a stern warning against middlemen (dalals), police said on Apr 12.

Superintendent of Police Dayal Gangwar said that as many as eight armed Maoists barged into the house of 50-year-old Goutam Hapoi, a timber merchant, at Kathasirisi in Suliapada area and took him away late on Sunday, Apr 11, night.

He said that Hapoi, a resident of West Midnapore district of neighbouring West Bengal was gunned down near his house.

Hapoi ran a saw mill and was involved in a timber business for the last five years.

It is yet to be ascertained whether the victim had earlier received threat from the rebels.

Police said that before escaping from the spot the ultras left behind some posters in Belgani and Oriya which read that 'dalals' (middlemen) would be punished in a similar way.

Security personnel have been dispatched to the area.

OneIndia News