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Stepping up their offensive, Maoists shot dead a Congress leader inside his vehicle and set it ablaze in Lumbatoli village in Jahrkhand's Simdega district. The victim, Hemant Bage, was on way to his relative's house when a group of ultras intercepted his vehicle and shot him dead, Sub-divisional Police Officer (Simdega), Varun Kumar said.
Kumar said the ultras then torched the vehicle. Police recovered the half burnt vehicle as well as Bage's body. Bage was a youth Congress block president. After the brazen act, the ultras left behind posters owning responsibility for the crime. The police launched a massive search operation in the area to track them down. Less than two months ago, the Maoists had gunned down Dalbhumgarh block president of Congress, Gobardhan Mahali in Ghatsila in East Singhbhum district.
Former Congress MLA Neol Tirkey was threatened by the Maoists on Sunday. The police recovered posters from Tamra village cautioning Tirkey not to speak against the Maoists or support Operation Green hunt launched against the ultras. The Maoists had threatened Congress party leaders and workers in Jharkhand, including those of Palamu district Congress committee, to snap ties with the party or face consequences.