Timber merchant killed by Maoists in Orissa

Maoists have gunned down a timber merchant in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district and threatened to "punish middlemen (dalals)", police said today.

About eight gun-totting ultras stormed into the house of Goutam Hapoi (50) at Kathasirisi in Suliapada area and took him away late last night, Superintendent of Police Dayal Gangwar said.

Hapoi, who hailed from West Midnapore district of neighbouring West Bengal and was engaged in timber business in the area for the last five years, was shot dead near his house, he said.

The victim was running a saw mill and it was not clear whether he had earlier been threatened by Maoists. 

The rebels fled from the site after putting up some posters in Belgani and Oriya that "dalals" (middlemen) would be punished in a similar way, police said.

Security personnel have been rushed to the area.