NEW DELHI, Nov 4: A senior BJP leader in Chhattisgarh was killed, reportedly by Maoists, just three days before the first phase of polling for the state Assembly elections.
Police said Ratan Dubey, who was campaigning for the elections, was killed with an axe. Ratan Dubey was the vice-president of the BJP’s Narayanpur district unit and represented the area in the district panchayat.
The incident took place on Saturday in Kaushalnar area of the district. Police said Dubey had gone to the Kaushalnar market area to campaign for the BJP and he was murdered with an axe. The Maoists had recently released a press note warning people against participating in the elections. A senior police official said a team has reached the spot to investigate the murder.
Assembly elections will be held in the state in two phases, on November 7 and 17. Narayanpur is among the 20 Assembly seats for which polls will be held on November 7.
(Manas Dasgupta)