Bhubaneswar, Aug. 14: Maoists killed a homeguard at Bargarh ahead of the Independence Day celebrations even as security was beefed up across the state’s Red zone.

The Maoists have issued a call to boycott the celebrations.

At the same time, the government, in a confidence building measure, flew four ministers to the most vulnerable districts of the state— Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Koraput — to hoist the national flag and take salute of the parade tomorrow.

Narayan Suna, 42, of Paikmal police station of Bargarh, was dragged out of his house at Bhuliabandh village late last night by a group of gun-toting rebels in front of terrorised members of his family. He was first stabbed with a sharp weapon and then shot at point-blank range.

“He received a bullet to his chest,” said police.

Deputy inspector-general of police, northern range, Sanjaya Kumar said: “Around 25 armed Maoists called Suna out of his house and killed him. The group included some female cadres. Their intention is to spread.”

Suna’s body has been sent to Padmapur for an autopsy. The state government has declared an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh for his family, which will also get Rs 5 lakh as insurance.