Odisha ASI shot dead by Maoists

Maoists on Tuesday abducted police assistant sub-inspector Kruparam Majhi in Odisha’s Nuapada district, tied his hands and legs and shot him dead under a tree. The bullet-ridden body was found at a forest in Sunabeda sanctuary. This was the first major incident by the rebels reported in two weeks since two Italian tour operators and MLA Jhina Hikaka were freed. Majhi (45) of Beltukri village was posted at Dharambandh police outpost. He was on a motorcycle while escorting a water tanker to a CRPF camp in the sanctuary. Maoist cadres surrounded Majhi as he stopped his two-wheeler about 2 km from the camp. A group took him away to the jungle at gunpoint. Another group detached the tractor hauling the water tanker, pulled it to the forest and set it on fire. 
The Maoists did not harm constable Debnarayan Sahoo, who was accompanying Majhi. As they disappeared into the jungle, Sahoo fled and informed villagers and officials. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik described Majhi’s murder as barbaric. He announced a job for Majhi’s kin and 8 lakh ex-gratia. The family will also get 10 lakh as insurance and other benefits, Patnaik said. 
The Union home ministry asked the Odisha government to convey to it under what circumstances Majhi was kidnapped by Maoists and the possible reasons behind his killing.  An official in New Delhi said the ministry was worried about incidents of Maoist violence in Odisha.