Suspected Maoists on Friday gunned down a Congress leader outside his house in Odisha's Koraput district. The deceased has been identified as Jeevan Patnaik (55), a resident of Sunki in Pottangi area, police said. According to sources, the incident took place between 8 to 8.15 pm while the deceased was standing outside his home at Sunki. "Around 5 to 7 people in plain clothes reached near the home of Patnaik around 8 pm and indiscriminately fired on him from close range. The Congress leader was instantly killed," said SDPO (Sunabdeda) V R Rao. "Taking advantage of the darkness, the attackers fled from the spot," Rao said. According to the police officer, the modus operandi of the incident suggests the involvement of Maoists but it is yet to be confirmed. "We suspect it to be the handiwork of the Maoists but as no letter from red ultras was recovered from the spot we are looking into other angles also," he added.
