Maoists kill pro-TATA leader in Bastar

     Jagdalpur, June 19, 2009: Armed Maoists today shot dead a people’s representative, who is a staunch supporter of the TATA project in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

     A prominent Congress leader and a staunch supporter of the Steel Plant by TATA in the Lohandiguda and the local Lohandiguda Janpad Panchayat Vice Chairman Vimal Meshram was shot dead in the market place in the presence of scores of people.

     Police officials said Meshram received four bullets from a close range on his head and neck and died on the spot.

     Although the spot is less than one km from the Lohandiguda Police Station but it took over an hour for the police to reach the spot, only after the Maoists left the place.

     Police said he was fired from a pistol and shot dead.

     Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh today expressed deep concern over the killing of Meshram and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.