Amid Maoist posters,Trinamool man found dead in Purulia

This is the first instance of Maoist violence in the area since CPI-Maoist state secretary Akash announced the cessation of violence for a month as a pre-condition of peace talks.

The latest incident took place at Ghatbera village in Balarampur of Purulia district. The family of

the victim,Jitu Singh Sardar,said a group of around eight men took him out of his house. He was strangulated with a wire.

Significantly,Sardar was organising a public meeting at the village in which senior Trinamool leaders and ministers like Mukul Roy and Santiram Mahato were scheduled

to address the people

on Saturday.

Sardar (62) was

secretary of Gram Unnanayan Committee and an influential Trinamool leader in the area,said

locals.

“I am shocked. He did not receive any threat ever. He was organising our meeting. He was killed to disturb our political activities in the region,” said Mahato,who represents Balarampur Assembly constituency.

Posters found near Sardar’s body threatened villagers of severe punishment if they attended the Trinamool meeting.

Budhu Singh Sardar,brother of the victim,claimed that people who came to his house were known to Jitu and therefore he accompanied them.

“We are verifying the evidence gathered from the spot. We are yet to ascertain whether the Maoists have killed Jitu Singh Sardar,” said Sunil Choudhury,SP of Purulia.

Trinamool sources said,the body of the victim is being brought to Kolkata and will be kept at Trinamool Bhavan.