Malkangiri: Maoists on Sunday gunned down a tribal man, suspecting him to be a police informer, at Panasput village under Chitrakonda Tehsil in Malkangiri district.
The deceased was identified as Shyam Pangi. A resident of Jantri village under Kalimela Tehsil, he had been hiding in Chitrakonda since last two years following repeated threats from the rebels.
According to reports, around 10 armed rebels arrived on a boat at Spillway Ghat near Chitrakonda and shot Pangi. His wife luckily escaped from their clutches.
Pangi, after knowing that he was in the hit list of Maoists, was staying at Pilobai village and had also met Malkangiri SP, seeking security for him and his family members, sources said.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up combing and search operations in the area after the killing.
