Phulbani (Odisha), Jan 29: A 30-year-old tribal youth was killed today after being abducted at gun point on Tuesday night, police said Friday.
Though the family members alleged that it was an act of Maoists, police suspected that the killers were illegal ganja traders who are active in Gochhapada police station area of Kandhamal district.
The deceased was identified as Biswambar Kanhar (30) a tribal youth of Kuaghara village under Gochhapada PS in Kandhamal district.
Though a note mentioning “Police informer” was recovered from near his body, Kandhamal SP K B Singh suspect it to be handiwork of illegal ganja traders.
Pravat Kumar Panigrahi SDPO, Phulbani, however, quoting the FIR lodged by deceased’s wife Panchali Kanhar said that Kanhar was killed by Maoists.
Panchali works as an Anganwadi Worker in the village.
According to the FIR lodged with Gochhapada police, Panchali said that about 25 armed Maoists cadre in uniform and masked with black cloth rushed to the premises of their house and dragged out her husband after tying his hands and legs telling her to leave the spot.
When the wife and Father-in-law of the deceased protested them, the killers threatened them at the point of gun.
On the next morning the body was found in the nearby village forest. He died after heavy assault with lathi and boulder, the FIR said.
A section of concerned villagers stated that, the deceased youth had earlier received life threat from Maoists at least six-seven times.
Kandhamal SP KB Singh said: “We have seized a piece of paper written on it as ‘Police Informer’ from the killing spot. It might be an act of Ganja traders as rampant ganja trade is going on in the area.”
