Maoists kill abducted leader in Orissa

Maoists have killed a kidnapped CPI(M) leader suspecting him to be a police informer in Sundergarh district of Orissa, police said today.

The body of district council member Anand Masiharo, 35, who was kidnapped by Maoists on Friday night from his house at Roxy village in K Balang area, was found last night inside Saranda forest, they said.

Two of his brothers who had been abducted along with him were, however, released unharmed, the police said.

The brothers, Harinath Munda, 30, and Bhainsa Munda, 28, were let off with a warning to refrain from helping police. Both have returned to their house in K Balang area safely, the police said.

Quoting the two brothers, who run a road-side eatery, police said that the heavily armed ultras had taken all the three kidnapped persons into Saranda forest where they held a so-called "people's court" before killing Anand.

Security has been strengthened in the area with deployment of additional force and intensification of patrolling, the police said.

A combing operation was also launched to trace the ultras.

Meanwhile, Maoists have threatened the people, including teachers, in several areas in the district asking them to boycott the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 and keep the schools closed.