Phulbani: Maoists reportedly killed a villager suspecting him to be a police informer in a forest near his village in Odisha’s Phulbani district on Sunday.
According to reports, the Maoists forcibly took the villager, identified as Ramesh Nayak of Bandapipili village under Kotagarh police station, from his house in the morning. As Ramesh did not return home late, his family members and villagers went in search of him in the afternoon.
They found Ramesh lying dead in the forest close to the village and a hand-written letter near the body. The letter was apparently written by the Maoists stating that they had shot Ramesh dead as he was a police informer.
On being informed, a team from Kotagarh police station went to the spot and seized the body. They have launched an investigation and sent the body for post-mortem but did not comment on the matter.
Following the incident, panic has gripped the villagers who have remained indoor throughout the day. It may be noted that the Maoists have been active in Kotagarh area for some time.