Maoists gun down former supporter

A former Maoist supporter has been gunned down by the banned group at Chukagoyya near here on the suspicion of him being an informer, police said today.

The group entered the house of Vanthala Jairam (24) at Chukagoyya village last night, dragged him out despite his wife's pleas, and shot him dead, they said.

Jairam, who was a farmer, had joined the militant group in 2013 and quit the outfit six months later.

Jairam was targeted by maoists as they suspected him to be behind the death of one of their leaders, Gemmeli Narayan Rao in an encounter with security forces in 2017, police said.

Sub-inspector B Chandrasekhar said he had advised Jairam to move to a safer place hours before commencement of 'Martyrs week being observed by the outlawed group, but he ignored the advice.