Maoist kill contractor in Odisha

Police said the body of the contractor, identified as Jami Prasad of Narayanpatna, was spotted with his throat slit and lying in a pool of blood near Jetal by villagers in the early hours today.

The man may have been killed late last night while returning from his work site, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Laxmipur, Y J Rao said.

Earlier, an assistant sub-inspector was kidnapped by Maoists and shot dead in cold blood at a forested area in Odisha's Nuapada district bordering Chhattisgarh on May 8.

The killing came close on the heels of kidnap of two Italians in Kandhamal district and BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka in Koraput district by two different Maoist groups. All three were subsequently released unharmed.