The victim has been identified as Satrughna Ghosh, a resident of Uparpatina village and a group D staff of Nayagram Panchayat, the police said.

Sources said Ghosh had gone to Nayagram block development office along with three other panchayat members for an audit of the NREGA work going there. Since the blockade by the PCAPA continues in the area, four of them had hired an auto-rickshaw.

While they were returning around 4.30 pm, a local woman asked for a lift. While the auto was passing through Kashiar forest near Chandabilla, 15 Maoists stopped the auto. The woman too joined them and dragged the four out and took them inside the forest.

Ghosh’s body was found this morning with Maoists posters strewn near his body. The posters said, “CPM cadre and police informer Satrughna has been punished by the people’s court”.

West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma said the body has been sent for an autopsy.

In another attack, a group of Maoists shot dead a CPM district committee member at Bhulabheda in Belpahari in West Midnapore. According to police, Deepak Mondal, 58, had gone to market with his friends when Maoists cornered him around 6.30 pm and opened fire. Till late evening, the body was still lying in the market place.