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'Maoist rebels' shoot Indian MP 'Maoist rebels' shoot Indian MP
(about 7 hours later)
A member of parliament belonging to a prominent regional party in eastern India has been shot dead by suspected Maoists, officials have said. Suspected Maoists in India's eastern Jharkhand state have shot dead a member of the national parliament, sparking violent protests by his supporters.
Sunil Mahato of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was killed while watching a football match in Jharkhand, which has been the scene of a Maoist insurgency. Sunil Mahato of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party was killed watching a football match on Sunday evening.
Two security guards and a party leader were also killed in the shoot out. Hundreds of his supporters took to the streets on Monday, attacking vehicles and setting up blockades. A protest strike caused widespread disruption.
More than 6,000 people have died during the rebels' 20-year fight for a communist state in parts of India. More than 6,000 people have died in 20 years of Maoist violence in Jharkhand.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government in the state has called for India's top federal detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to lead an investigation into Sunday's murder.
The incident happened when Mr Mahato turned up in Kishanpur village to watch a local football match.
Ghatshila senior official Ramesh Dubey told the Press Trust of India news agency that about 15 Maoists came to the match and moved close to where Mr Mahato was sitting on the pretext of giving him a garland.
'Revenge''Revenge'
He said Mr Mahato and his security guards died instantly after the men opened fire, while a local party leader died on his way to hospital. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government in the state has called for India's top federal detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to lead an investigation into Sunday's shooting.
Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda said he did not rule out the Maoists killing Mr Mahato in "revenge" for the government's drive against the Maoists in the region. Mr Mahato's party is an ally of India's ruling Congress party
A spokesman for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said a general strike has been called in the state on Monday in protest against the murder. Two security guards and a party leader were killed along with Mr Mahato when suspected Maoists opened fire at a local football match.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party is an ally of the governing Congress party. The game had been organised to mark the Hindu festival of Holi near Kishanpur, some 160km (100 miles) east of state capital, Ranchi.
An eyewitness, Sheikh Younus Ali, told the BBC that a female rebel squad had carried out the attack.
He said "the function was going on and suddenly the women members of the squad under the guise of villagers snatched the weapons from the lawmakers' security guards".
Sunil Mahato "tried to escape, but the rebels pumped several bullets into his back... and shouted slogans like 'Long Live Maoism'," he said.
Officials said Mr Mahato and his security guards died at the scene, while a local party leader died on his way to hospital.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said the attack by Maoists might have been in "revenge" for the government's drive against rebels in the region.
High alert
Normal life in Jharkhand was badly hit by Monday's general strike called by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, an ally of India's governing Congress party.
Other political parties have also supported the shutdown.
Hundreds of JJM supporters held protests across the state, blocking the national highway and attacking vehicles.
Security forces were put on high alert.
The Maoist movement which began more than three decades ago has spread to a number of Indian states.The Maoist movement which began more than three decades ago has spread to a number of Indian states.
The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless workers.The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless workers.