Trader killed in broad daylight

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/03/11/stories/2010031156300300.htm)
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Trader killed in broad daylight


Staff Reporter



Assailants are Maoists?



Reason yet to be ascertainedManhunt launched to nab culprits


BERHAMPUR: Suspected Maoists killed a trader, Mandia Loknath Sahu, at Nilabadi village in Bandhugaon block of Koraput district on Wednesday. The murder occurred in a broad daylight. The victim was shot at from close range and the assailants also slit his throat with sharp weapons to confirm his death. All this occurred in the heart of the village.
According to sources, the attackers were four in number and they came in a four wheeler. Loknath was in the village market. The assailants called him to the middle of the road to murder him in front of villagers.
Koraput Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu said the modus operandi of the act hinted that it may be an act of Maoists. This suspicion is strengthened as no localite could identify the assailants, who seemed to be from outside the area. A manhunt was started in the area following the murder to nab the culprits.
The reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. But tension mounted in the area as the deceased was being opposed by the Bandhugaon group of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS). The group was to hold a women's rally at Nalabadi on Wednesday. In the past the deceased had faced the ire of Bandhugaon group of the CMAS as the organisation alleged him to be involved in a gang rape. His patches of land had been taken over by the supporters of the organisation and he had to leave his parental home at Jabada village to live at Nalabadi. Loknath's family members pointed fingers at the activists of the organization.
CMAS denies charge
But the adviser of the Bandhugaon group of the CMAS, Srikant Mohanty, denied the allegation. Mr. Mohanty said although they were protesting against the activities of Loknath, they were in support of mass movement and did not believe in individual annihilation. It may be noted that this group had parted ways with its Narayanpatna counterpart due to difference over use of violence against individuals in the name of mass movement. It was always alleged that the CMAS of Narayanpatna led by Nachika Linga had Maoist links. In recent past Maoists had also pasted posters at Kendruka against some activists of the Bandhugaon CMAS.
Mr. Sahu said the Maoists may be making efforts to unite the Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon CMAS groups and the murder of a man opposed by the Bandhugaon group may be a step towards it. During his speech in the State Assembly, Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare had also commented that “attempts by Maoists to replicate a Lalgarh type campaign in Narayanpatna area in Koraput district has been dealt with firmly.”






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