Maoists kill tribal farmer in Odisha

Bhumia was intercepted by the Maoists while he was returning to his house after watching a 'jatra' at a nearby village Tuesday night.

Maoists have killed a tribal farmer suspecting him to be a police informer in Odisha's Malkangiri district, police said.

The incident took place at Barubeda village under Mathili block. According to police, the victim was identified as Anantram Bhumia.

The body of the farmer was spotted by locals near a jungle close to Barubeda village on Wednesday morning.

Bhumia was intercepted by the Maoists while he was returning to his house after watching a 'jatra' at a nearby village Tuesday night.

The Maoists then forcibly took him about 10-15 km away from the village to Dhakadarashi and slit his throat, the police said.

Meanwhile, the police rushed to the spot and seized the body for post-mortem examination.

"He had no links with the Maoists or the police. Bhuimia was a simple farmer," said Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena.

The killing could be the work of Maoists belonging to Darava Division of CPI(Maoist) in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The police have sealed the border with Chhattisgarh and launched a massive combing operation in the area to nab the Maoists, Meena said.