Reward on Odisha legislator's killers hiked

Odisha Police Monday increased five-fold the reward money for information on two Maoists wanted in the killing of a ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator two years ago, an official said.

Umarkot legislator Jagabandhu Majhi was shot dead Sep 24, 2011, by unidentified gunmen when he was distributing land ownership papers to poor tribals at a public function at Gona village in Nabrangpur district, over 500 km from here. His bodyguard was also killed in the attack.

The state police's crime branch which has been investigating the murder identified at least two suspects and offered Rs.1 lakh to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the duo - identified as Satyam Ghaude and Jani Salem.

"Now we have increased the amount to Rs.5 lakh," Additional Director General of Police (Crime Branch) B.K.Sharma told IANS.

Jani Salem is the general secretary of the Main-Puri divisional committee of the outlawed Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) while Ghaude is an active member, he said.

Salem earlier in a television interview claimed responsibility for the killing, he said.

Majhi, 39, was a popular tribal leader. He was disabled and confined to a wheelchair after he was injured when fired at by some unidentified assailants several years ago.