Contractor beaten to death by Maoists in Jharkhand

Ranchi, July 19: A contractor has been beaten to death and three others were injured by Maoist guerrillas in Jharkhand's Chatra district, police said on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, the guerrillas belonging to Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) raided Meral village and started thrashing villagers, accusing them of being police informers.

The contractor was identified as Nageshwar Ganjhu of Meramgadda village. His refusal to pay a levy to Maoists apparently led to his death.

According to his family members, Ganjhu was abducted from his home and taken to a nearby village. He was beaten up brutally along with other villagers.

Police reached the village on Thursday morning and launched an operation to arrest the Maoists who are on a run.