Abducted Gaon Sathi shot dead by suspected Maoists

17 October,Bhubaneswar

A Gaon Sathi of Durgapanga village in Kandhmal district abducted by the suspected Maoists on Sunday mid night, was shot dead by the Red rebels.

Police said, around 15 to 20 armed Maoists had come to the house of gaon sathi Besant Bhatta last Sunday late night and took him away forcibly. His body was found near Satanalia under Baliguda police limits about one and half km from his village this morning.

The Maoists of Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali division have left posters near the body and said the gaon sathi was shot dead as he was acting as police informer.

The Red rebels warned of similar consequences to other police informers.

“The gaon sathi of Durgapanga faced the dire consequence as he was engaged in providing information to police about Maoists’ movement and activities. Other police informers would also face similar fate if they continue to work for police,” the posters read.

The posters held the Kandhamal SP and the intelligence officers responsible for the incident and urged police not to play with the lives of innocent tribals.

Police seized the body and posters and started investigation. The local residents staged a road blockade near Durgapanga village demanding compensation for the next kin of the deceased.

The police had also recovered some posters in the village, which claimed Bhatta’s abduction. The posters urged the people to support ‘Odisha bandh’ called by the Maoist on October 21 next over the issue of Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh.

Odisha DGP R P Sharma said, police suspected the role of Maoist behind Bhatt’s killing and inquiring into the incident.