SUSPECTED MAOISTS KILL JHARKHAND LEGISLATOR

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000206 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV PHUM IN SUBJECT: SUSPECTED MAOISTS KILL JHARKHAND LEGISLATOR 1.(SBU) Summary: On Wednesday July 9, former Jharkhand minister and sitting Janata Dal (United) legislator (MLA) in the State Assembly Ramesh Singh Munda was shot dead by about a dozen suspected Maoists. Three of his bodyguards and a student were also killed in the attack which was carried out in a local school in Bundu where Munda was the chief guest at a prize distribution ceremony. Bundu is situated 60 kilometers southeast of the Jharkhand capital, Ranchi. Since 2005, Munda is the third top politician in the state, after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sunil Mahto and Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist MLA Mahendra Singh, to be killed by suspected Maoist rebels in Jharkhand. End summary. 2.(U) On July 9, former Jharkhand cabinet minister and sitting Janata Dal (United) legislator (MLA) in Jharkhand State Assembly, Ramesh Singh Munda, was allegedly shot dead by about a dozen suspected Maoists. Three of his bodyguards and a student were also killed in the attack that was carried out when Munda was delivering a speech in a prize distribution function at a local school at Bundu. Incidentally, the school falls in the Tamar Assembly constituency, about 60 kilometers southeast of the Jharkhand capital of Ranchi. Munda, who was the chief guest at the function, had represented the constituency twice since ¶2000. 3.(SBU) A senior police official in Jharkhand informed Congen that they were investigating the case. The suspected Maoists fled the scene after the incident and no arrest has been made so far. The police source added that due to security reasons, since 2007 all ministers and legislators have been instructed to keep the local police stations informed about their movements. He added that the suspected Maoists opened fire with semi-automatic weapons from close range. Media sources revealed that in 2005, the Jharkhand Police intelligence had taken note of Ramesh Singh Munda (then a minister in the Arjun Munda's National Democratic Alliance government),and that he was on the hit list of the Maoists because he had not paid half of the amount he had promised them for securing their support during the Assembly polls in 2005. 4.(SBU) Munda was also the leader of JD (U) legislature party in the Jharkhand Assembly. He is the third top politician in Jharkhand, after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Member of Parliament Sunil Mahto and Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist legislator Mahendra Singh, to have been killed by suspected Maoist rebels in Jharkhand. In January 2005 Singh was killed while addressing a public meeting, while Mahto was targeted by the Maoist rebels in March 2007 when he was busy distributing prizes at a local football tournament (2007 Kolkata 074). 5.(SBU) Comment: Attack on senior Jharkhand politicians by Maoist rebels during public functions seems to be a common modus operandi in Jharkhand. According to media sources, the killing could be in retaliation for unfulfilled promises made by the politicians to the Maoists during the elections. The incident also highlights the continuing poor security situation in much of Jharkhand. In the 26 districts in the state of Jharkhand, 18 are considered to be infested by Maoists, and the state government has yet to draw up an effective plan to contain the rebels. KELLY