Maoists kill ZP vice-chief

Maoists struck in Visakhapatnam district after a gap of three years on Monday, firing at a private jeep and injuring six tribals and gunning down the vice chairperson of the Zilla Parishad.

U. Somalingam was shot dead at his house in Choudupalle, about 120 km from here, late on Monday evening. Reports said three Maoists came to his house and shot him from close range. His relatives rushed him to Chintapalle hospital, about 3 km from the village, but he died on the way.

Somalingam was elected in the place of Kimudu Ravi Shankar who was also shot dead by Maoists on May 28, 2007. Shankar was shot dead in the presence of hundreds of people during the Modakondamma jatara, a local festival.

The Maoists had alleged that both Somalingam and Shankar were supporting the mining of bauxite in the Agency area. Recently, the Maoists had issued a threat to all Congress leaders supporting mining activities.

Earlier in the day, Maoists opened fire at a jeep carrying tribals while they were returning from a weekly shandy (market) at RV Nagar of Chintapalle mandal on Monday, about 80 km from here. The Maoists had laid at least three landmines on the road.

Six persons, including three women, sustained bullet injuries in the attack and the condition of two of them is stated to be critical.