Maoists fire at village priest, wife in Chhattisgarh

After about a month-long lull following abduction of district collector R Vineel Krishna, Maoists fired at two persons, one of them a village priest, seriously injuring both in Malkangiri district of Orissa, late last night.

Police said a group of four masked ultras fired at Sukra Hantal no sooner than he opened door of his house at remote Katapalli village, about 40 km from here, injuring the 50-year old, while 25 other Maoists were waiting outside.

The priest's wife Hiramani, 35, was also hit by bullets and both were rushed to district headquarters hospital here with serious injuries, police said.

Sukra had six bullets in his body and his wife suffered serious head injuries.