harkhand Mukti Morcha general secretary and parliamentarian Sunil Mahato was on March 4 shot dead by Naxalites in an attack that also killed two of his bodyguards and a party colleague during a football match organised to mark Holi at a place about 40 km from Jamshedpur.
Jharkhand Home Secretary Sudhir Tripathi said in Ranchi that a group of Maoists opened fire from close at 38-year-old Mahato, who represented Jamshedpur constituency and was the chief guest at the match in Bakuria, East Singhbhum district.
Seven bullets were pumped into Mahato's body. The lawmaker was killed on the spot, East Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Pankaj Darad said.
Meanwhile, a conspiracy angle behind the murder is not being ruled out.
Jharkhand Director General of Police Devi Mahapatra said, "I feel it is some kind of a conspiracy because Mahato was made to stay back for the women's football match organised there. He was told it would get over in 15 minutes, which is not possible. I feel it is some kind of conspiracy."
The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the lawmaker's assassination.
Image: Suman Mahato, the wife of slain parliamentarian Sunil Mahato is comforted by other mourners as she grieves over the body of her husband during the funeral service in Jamshedpur.
Photograph: Strdel/AFP/Getty Images
Also See:
Understanding the Maoist threat
Why we have no answer to Naxal menace
How government can tackle Naxals
Caught between Maoists & government
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