Giridih (Jharkhand), February 21 The partially burnt body of a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) worker was found in the Giridih district on Saturday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Rakesh Mahto, a former Zila Parishad chairman.
His body was found in a deserted place near Ghutvali in the Nimiyaghat police station area, a police officer said.
Nimiyaghat police station officer in-charge Suman Kumar said, "Prima facie, it appears that the man, identified as Rakesh Mahto, a JMM worker and former ZP chairman, was beaten to death and then his body was set on fire to destroy evidence. A forensic team will collect evidence from the scene. The body will be sent for post-mortem examination."
A murder case will be registered against unidentified persons, he said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, state minister and JMM leader Sudivya Sonu expressed grief over the incident, and said that Mahto was an active and dedicated worker of the party.
"According to information received so far, he received a phone call from someone around Saturday midnight, after which he left the house. Early this morning, people found his motorcycle and his partially burnt body and immediately alerted the police. The police investigation into the matter is currently underway," the minister told reporters outside the Jharkhand Assembly.
He also assured people that with the help of technical assistance, the police would soon obtain information about the last person he spoke to over the phone and who had called him.
The culprits will soon be arrested, he asserted.
