Medininagar (Jharkhand): A man, who was accused in the killing of social activist Lalit Kumar Mehta, has been shot dead by suspected Maoists near Kelari in Palamau district, police said today.

Superintendent of Police, Palamau, Udayan Kumar Singh said the body of Raju Singh was recovered from the area this morning. The deceased was one of the five accused in the Mehta murder case and was evading his arrest, the SP said.

The Maoists have claimed responsibility of the murder saying they had shot him as he allegedly killed Mehta on May 14 last year when he was returning home after a social function in the district's Chhatarpur area. The rebels made this claim in a note found near the body of Singh.

Soon after the killing of Mehta, a series of protests were held by social activists, including Jean Dreze in Palamau and Ranchi demanding action against the killers. Dreze is a member of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Council, known as NREGA Watch.

Source : PTI