Maoists kill Cong leader in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Maoist guerrillas shot dead a youth Congress leader in Jharkhand's Simdega district and later burnt his body, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred when Hemant Bage was going to meet his brother-in-law and Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) S Bhuiya at Lumbatoli village, around 140 km from Ranchi.

Bage was intercepted midway and shot dead. The Maoists later burnt his body.

The guerrillas left behind pamphlets threatening other Congress workers and leaders of a similar fate if the joint offensive against them by central and state security forces continues.

Bage is the second Congress worker to be killed in less than two months.

The guerrillas had killed Gobardhan Mahali, who was Congress block president of East Singhbhum district on March 30.

More than 100 Congress workers in Palamau, Latehar, Simdega and other districts have reportedly quit the party fearing Maoist attack.