Punem, who was also the state vice president of Samajwadi Party in Bijapur district of Bastar, had recently contested the assembly elections from Bijapur.
Representational Image(Photo: iStock)
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Santosh Punem was found dead on Wednesday, a day after he was kidnapped by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur.
Punem, who was also the state vice president of Samajwadi Party in Bijapur district of Bastar, had recently contested the assembly elections from Bijapur.
Police said that the Punem’s body was found around 15 kilometres from the police station, deep in the jungles of Marimalla.
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Police also said that Punem, who worked as a contractor, was abducted from his construction site late on Tuesday.
According to reports, his family members pleaded with the Naxals on Tuesday for his release.
Police said that additional information around the abduction can be shared once the police party sent to the jungles return.
The incident sent shockwaves down the Naxal-infested region in Chhattisgarh, which had in April this year witnessed a brazen attack on a sitting BJP MLA by Naxals less than 48 hours before polling for Lok Sabha elections in Bastar.
Read More: BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, PM expresses grief
Bhima Mandavi, the MLA from Dantewada, was killed when his convoy was targeted by Naxals.
Four others, including three of Mandavi’s PSOs, died in the blast triggered by a powerful IED. Five personnel of Chhattisgarh State Police were reportedly critically injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned the attack while expressing grief at the passing of the lawmaker and security force personnel.
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