Maoists kill ex-sarpanch on suspicion of being police informer in Odisha’s Kandhamal

The Red violence returned to haunt the residents of Odisha’s Kandhamal district with the ultras gunning down a former sarpanch suspecting him to be a police informer on Wednesday night.

The deceased has been identified as Subal Kanhar of Saulipada village in Sumarbandh gram panchayat under Phiringia police limits.

Subal was asleep at his house when three Maoists woke him up late at night and took him 200 metres away from his house and fired five rounds of bullets at him, alleged his brother.

The deceased’s family members brought serious allegations against the local police and accused them of not reaching the spot despite repeated calls.

Speaking exclusively to OTV, Subala’s brother Sudam Kanhar said, “At least 3 Maoists had come to our house and took away my brother. They took him around 200 metres away and fired five rounds at him. They suspected him of being a police informer and had earlier warned against working on behalf of the police.”

“They had been behind him since 2018-2019. Since then, we are staying in Balliguda. But, my brother had just shifted back to the village two months back,” he added.

“The police are scared to go to the village to recover the bullet-ridden body. They have directed fellow villagers to bring the body to a neighbouring village from where it will be taken for post-mortem. So, a few villagers are bringing the body,” he further added.

Meanwhile, the Maoist attack after a brief gap has once again sent a shockwave across the area.