A sarpanch (village head) was killed by Maoists in his native village in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, the police said today.
As per preliminary information, over a dozen ultras stormed into the house of Lakhma Ram Mandavi, 40, in Chhote Gudra village on late Friday night and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons, a senior officer said, adding that Mr Mandavi died on the spot.
He said the police were informed about the incident by locals today morning.
He said the man was a nominated sarpanch of Chhote Gudra village panchayat.
The motive behind the killing is not known yet, the officer said, adding that Maoist pamphlets were found at the spot.
"Prima facie, Maoists were demanding money from the sarpanch and called him up for a meeting. He might have been killed for refusing to pay," the officer said.
Further investigation is underway.
Woman Missing After Husband's Death, Family Thinks She Died On Funeral Pyre CBI Registers FIR Against Ex Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission Chairman Over "Nepotism" Racket Jailed Maoist Leader Likely To Enroll For PhD As Bengal Government Steps In What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life Trump's Vice President Pick Reveals How His Hindu Wife Helped Him Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Called Cops Home, Spoke For 2 Hours Video: Apple Opens First Store In Malaysia, Here's What Samsung Did Union Budget 2024: Who Has Presented Most Number Of Budgets? JoSAA Counselling: Final Seat Allotment Result For IITs, NITs On July 17 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.