Dumka, Oct. 15: CPI (Maoist) activists have put up posters claiming responsibility for the killings of Dina Nath Saran, executive director of Panem Coal Mine Project, and senior manager Sital Prasad while they were out on a walk on Monday.

The posters today appeared in Paharpur under Amrapara and in Gummamore and Kuscheera hamlets in Pakur and Gopikander blocks here.

Pakur superintendent of police Md Neehal said the posters claimed the duo were killed because of their hostility towards villagers and the anti-people attitude of Panem Coal Mines at Amrapara. The posters also asked villagers to keep away from the company.

Though this confirms police suspicion about Maoist involvement, Santhal Pargana IG Ram Lakshman Prasad said they had already initiated combing operations in the rural pockets of Godda, Pakur and Dumka districts.

“We are yet to penetrate the dense forests on the Rajmahal series as we are not prepared. But we hope to conduct raids there after getting additional manpower from neighbouring districts,” said a police officer from Pakur.

Panem officials accepted the possibility of Maoist involvement but politicians raised doubts. “Till they find solid evidence, how can the police believe Maoists’ claim solely on the basis of posters?” asked Littipara JMM MLA Sushila Hansdak.

Former JMM MP Simon Marandi and Maheshpur MLA Suphal Marandi echoed Hansdak. The BJP has demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.