Gamharia: Unidentified assailants gunned down JMM activist Prakash Mahato and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha member Gopal Mahato in Seraikela late yesterday night.
Bodies of the deceased were recovered by police near a culvert between Gohira and Jharidih. Both persons were shot three bullets each in neck, head and chest, police said.
Seraikela police lodged an FIR against unidentified persons and began investigation into the killings that have come just before the Assembly elections. Cops do not rule out political angle in the crime.
Investigators said the reasons behind the killings could not be ascertained. The killings have however triggered sensation as Assembly polls are round the corner. Prakash Mahato had joined JMM on 1st November after quitting JVM along with Krishna Gagrai. Gopal Mahato had also accompanied Mahato and Gagrai on the day of their joining the JMM in Kharsawan, but had not joined the party.
Sources said Prakash was a resident of Sindhukopa Baignadih under Tentoposi panchayat while Gopal Mahato was a resident of Bankipur in Kandra. Gopal Mahato was the district president of JVM�s Chhatra Morcha.
Hearing the news, the MP of Jamshedpur Vidyut Varan Mahato, JMM leader Krishna Gagrai, district JMM president Sudhir Mahato and several other political leaders converged in Seraikela to condemn the incident. The politicians demanded speedy probe and arresting of the killers.
Both deceased were cremated on Monday in the presence of a large number of political activists.