Visakhapatnam ZP vice-chairman shot dead by Naxals

Hyderabad, May 10: Maoists today shot dead the Visakhapatnam Zilla Parishad vice-chairman in his native village, police said.

U Somalingam was attacked by three ultras at Chowdapalli village of Visakhapatnam district at around 7 pm, they said.

Somalingam, who was on the hit-list of Naxals, was earlier warned by police that the extremists could target him, a senior police officer told PTI over phone.

“The assailants fired from point-blank range, killing him on the spot,” the officer said, adding a hunt has been launched to nab the extremists.

Earlier in the day, six tribals were injured when Maoists opened fire on them in R V Puram forest area in Vishakapatnam district on the Andhra-Orrisa border.

The tribals were shifted to KGM Hospital at Visakhapatnam city, police said.

–Agencies