Orissa legislator killed in Maoist-hit district

Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 (IANS) Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jagabandhu Majhi and his personal security officer were Saturday shot dead by unidentified men in the state's Maoist-hit Nabrangpur district, police said.

The 39-year-old Umarkot legislator was distributing land ownership papers to poor tribal residents at a public function at Gona village in the district, over 500 km from here.

The popular tribal leader was disabled and confined to a wheel chair after he was injured when fired at by some unidentified assailants several years ago. Police did not rule out the hand of Maoists in the latest attack.

'Three people came on a motorcycle and opened fire at the legislator. We are examining all angles,' District Superintendent of Police Nitin Sekhar told IANS. Pinku Patra, the security officer, was also killed.

More than half of the state's 30 districts are Maoist affected. The guerrillas are steadily entering the Nabrangpur district.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the killing and said he was deeply shocked. 'I am deeply shocked. He (Majhi) used to move around in a wheel chair,' Patnaik told reporters.

He said the crime branch wing of the state police department has been ordered to investigate.