Jamshedpur, Nov. 23: A key functionary of Jharkhand Mukti Vahini was brutally murdered at Chowka in Seraikela-Kharsawan district last night.

The victim, Sunil Singh Munda (30), was first shot in the head and later the assailants crushed his head with a boulder at Dubrajpur in Chowka on NH-33.

As news of Munda’s murder spread, Jharkhand Mukti Vahini activists supported by residents of Chowka put up a blockade on the highway demanding detection and arrest of those behind the murder.

The incident came to light this morning after residents of the area found the body.

The blockade began from 8.30am and continued till 12.00 noon. The protesters squatted on the highway with the body of the victim. After Chandil sub-inspector Dhananjay Singh reached the spot and assured the protesters that action would be taken soon against the assailants, they allowed the police to take the body for post-mortem.

Vehicles were stranded while the protesters shouted slogans and demanded action against the culprits.

Sources said four or five assailants had ambushed the victim when he was riding a motorcycle to his house at Dam Colony in Chandil from Chowk More.

The post-mortem report conducted at MGM Medical College’s mortuary reveal the assailants had first fired two shots from behind then crushed Munda to death. Two pellets were recovered from his head. His body was found at an isolated place next to a drain.

Munda was actively involved with welfare of his people. He fought for atrocities against women, child labour, bonded labour and many environmental issues.

Ghanshyam Mahto, a member of Jharkhand Mukti Vahini, said he met Munda at Chowka More yesterday at 7.30pm.

“I met him yesterday and he told me he was returning home. I cannot believe he is dead,” said Mahto.

“He had helped in solemnising two inter-caste marriages in Chowka in the past three months. In both the marriages, the bridegrooms did not want to marry the girls after sexually exploiting them,” said Mahto.

“Munda had led an agitation against some sponge-iron units that were violating pollution control norms. He could have earned the wrath of some people with his good deeds,” he added.

Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police Laxman Prasad Singh said: “The way Munda was killed indicates that some people had personal enmity with him. In case of political assassination, the assailants would simply have shot him dead.”