Maoists killed a sarpanch in the Phiringia police station area of Odisha's Kandhamal district on Wednesday, suspecting him to be a police informer.

The deceased has been identified as Subal Kanhar. Police have intensified combing operations in the area.

Subal’s brother Sudam Kanhar said: “On Wednesday night, a group of Maoists barged into our house and asked Subal to accompany them. Later, they dragged him for about 200 metres and pumped five bullets into him.”

Subal had played a decisive role in developmental interventions in the Maoist-infested area. Sources said he was promoting progress in the area which made him the target of the red rebels.

“For the last four years, Maoist groups have been targeting us. Because of the Maoist threat, we are staying in Baliguda town. My brother Subal only returned to the village — Saulipada — two months back and started living there. But the Maoists came to the house and killed him,” said Sudam.

The Maoists are trying hard to regroup themselves in Odisha and have started to assert their supremacy in the districts of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts. The police are trying to counter the Maoists' move.

On Tuesday, three Maoists were gunned down and a deputy superintendent of police (DSP)-rank officer sustained injuries during an exchange of fire with the ultras in Kalahandi. The DSP is out of danger now following treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. The encounter took place in Tapranga Reserved Forest in Kalahandi district. The police recovered the bodies and seized one AK-47.