From correspondents in Jharkhand, India, 07:33 PM IST

Posters credited to the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have been plastered on the walls of a village in Jamshedpur district claiming responsibility for Sunday's killing of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Sunil Mahto.

Posters by the CPI-Maoist have appeared at Gurabanda village saying that Mahto was killed by the outfit as he was working 'against the interests of poor people'.

The posters, which came to the notice of the people Tuesday morning, have created confusion in the minds of intelligence agencies and security forces with conflicting theories circulating about the group responsible for the killing.

The Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), a frontal organisation of the CPI-Maoist, has denied any involvement of the rebels in the killing.

'We have no role in the killing of Mahto. We condemn such incidents,' said Jeetan Marandi, a senior rank RDF activist.

'We have contradictory reports on the role of Maoists in the killing of Mahto. While RDF has denied the hand of Maoists, the posters tell a different story,' said G.S. Rath, additional director general of police (ADGP), Special Branch.

Rath told IANS that a mafia group, which might have masterminded the killing, could have put up the posters to mislead the people and police.

Police have not ruled out political rivalry in the killing of Mahto. Even the slain MP's wife said there is a conspiracy in the killing.

Mahto, a Lok Sabha MP from Jamshedpur, and his bodyguards were attacked Sunday afternoon when he was watching a football match at Narshingh village near the steel city Jamshedpur, around 140 km from here.

'We will try to find out why the soccer match was fixed on the day of Holi. A soccer match is an usual function on the day of Holi,' said Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)