Maoists kill village leader in Odisha

Maoists Saturday killed a village leader in Odisha's Malkangiri district, two days after abducting him along with two others, police said.

The rebels, however, released the other two unharmed.

According to Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh, a group of Maoists seized the three Thursday night at gun point in Mahupadar village, over 700 km from Bhubaneswar.

The body of the 35-year-old Budha Dharua was found in a forested area near the village. This is the second killing by the Maoists this week in the district.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts.