SP Leader Santosh Punem Abducted, Killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh

Some locals spotted Punem’s body lying in a pool of blood at the Marimalla Hills on 19 June and informed the police.

Some locals spotted Punem’s body lying in a pool of blood at the Marimalla Hills on Wednesday, 19 June, and informed the police.

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Samajwadi Party leader Santosh Punem was abducted and killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, the police said on Wednesday, 19 June.

Santosh Punem was also a contractor and was abducted by ultras late in the evening on Tuesday, 18 June, from his construction site in Marimalla village, where he had gone to supervise some road- related work, said Divyang Patel, Superintendent of Police.

Some locals spotted Punem’s body lying in a pool of blood at the Marimalla Hills on Wednesday, 19 June, and informed the police.

A team of security personnel rushed to the spot, which was deep inside a forest, 16 km away from the police station, Patel said. He added that the police were yet to return with the body.

Last year, Punem had contested the state Assembly polls from Bijapur seat on the SP's ticket.

(This piece has been edited for clarity.)