Bhubaneswar, April 3: Maoists struck in Malkangiri today killing a village sarpanch. The rebels suspected Bhagban Kirsani, head of Kurmanur panchayat, to be a police informer.

More than 20 armed Maoists reached Kirsani’s house in Kurmanur late last night and took him away. His body, with the throat slit, was found on the outskirts of the village this morning.

The rebels, who are trying to penetrate into new areas, are deliberately trying to spread terror. Apart from killing police informers, they have destroyed mobile towers and country liquor brewing facilities in certain areas.

Yesterday, they blew up a country liquor brewery in Titlagarh area of Balangir district after asking people staying there to vacate it. This is an attempt to show that they are against liquor and pro-people.