IANS reported that Maoist rebels gunned down a man on Friday in a market in Chhattisgarh village for his vocal support of TATA Steel project.

According to police, armed insurgents shot dead Mr Vimal Meshram, 42, an influential tribal leader, in full public view. Mr Meshram was also the president of Lohandiguda village council in Bastar district.

Mr A Naroti station in charge of Lohandiguda police station told IANS by phone that “Meshram was shot at the weekly market and died on the spot. The Maoists walked away after the murder, creating a panic at the crowded weekly market.”

Police officials suspect that Mr Meshram was killed for his active involvement in favor of project despite Maoist warnings and also for playing a leading role in compensation amount distribution to farmers in lieu of their land.

(Sourced from IANS)