Odisha: Maoists kill sarpanch in Malkangiri district

Malkangiri: A village head was killed by Maoists in Odisha's Malkangiri district on the suspicion of being a police informer, police said on Wednesday. A group of about 25 ultras struck at the house of Bhagban Krisani, sarpanch of Kurmanur panchayat, late Tuesday night and asked him to accompany them, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh said.

Krisani's body was found with his throat slit along a forest road on the outskirt of the village on Wednesday morning, he said. The sarpanch was called by the Maoists on the plea of a meeting.

Combing operation and patrolling by security forces were stepped up in the area in the aftermath of the incident, they said.