Tribal leader found murdered in Odisha

Berhampur (Odisha): A prominent adivasi leader and former president of Lok Sangram Manch's Ganjam district unit was today found murdered in front of his house in Kumarabandh village here.

The police recovered the body of Edunga Gamamgo (55) lying in a pool of blood and sent it for postmortem. The cause of the death would be known only after the postmortem, Inspector in-charge, Badagada police station, B K Routray said.

The police, however, suspect that old enmity might have been the reason behind the murder.

Senior police officers went to the spot as there was considerable tension in the area following the murder.

Some locals gheraoed the policemen, when they were in the village for investigation, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Gamango was known to be fighting for the rights of the tribal people, particularly for proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

The tribal leader was removed from his post in the Lok Sangram Manch about one-and-a-half-year ago for alleged indiscipline.