An influential political leader of Jharkhand was shot dead by suspected Maoists at Binpur area in West Midnapore district this evening, police said.
Rabindranath Basu alias Babu (45), general secretary of Jharkhand Janamukti Morcha, was with his friends at a shop in Dahijuri Chowk when five ultras came in two motorbikes and sprayed bullets at him from close range, Jhargram Additional SP Alok Rajoria said.
Basu died on the spot, he said.
The victim had changed his political affiliation several times. Once a CPI(M) youth leader, he joined Jharkhand Party (Naren) and then shifted his allegiance to Jharkhand Anushilan Party. Later, before the panchayat polls in the state in 2008, he floated his own outfit, Jharkhand Janamukti Morcha, party sources said.
Jharkhand Janamukti Morcha's former president Panchanan Hansda had also been gunned down by Maoists about a year ago. Basu had gone underground for a long time during that period, they said.