From correspondents in Orissa, India, 10:00 AM IST

Maoist guerillas shot dead a leader of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa's Koraput district, police said Saturday.

A group of armed Maoists shot dead Niranjan Bidika, 38, at about 10 p.m. Friday in Sanasarpali village, about 500 km from here.

Bidika was the head of BJD unit in Bandhugaon block of the district.

Police said they were investigating the murder.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)