Former Jharkhand minister killed by Naxalites

Ranchi, July 9 (ANI): Former Jharkhand minister and sitting Janata Dal (United) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda was allegedly shot dead by Naxalites on Wednesday.

Two of his bodyguards, a party colleague and a student were also killed in the attack that was carried out when Munda was delivering his speech at a school function at Bundu, which is located in his assembly constituency Tamar-50 kms from Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

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Director General of Police RK Mullick confirmed his death, and said that the MLA was brought to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences after he was seriously injured in an attack by suspected Naxalites at Baruhatu village near Bundu.

He said Naxalites opened fire from close range. Munda was delivering his speech at the school when 15 Maoists reached the function and sprayed bullets at him.

Munda was also the JDU leader in the Jharkhand assembly. He is the third top politician in Jharkhand after JMM MP Sunil Mahto and CPI-ML MLA Mahendra Singh, who have been killed by the Maoist rebels in Jharkhand.

In 2005, the Jharkhand special branch had accused Ramesh Singh Munda (then a minister in the Arjun Munda government) of hobnobbing with the Maoist rebels for their support in the assembly polls. Most recently, in March this year Munda had received a threatening SMS. (ANI)