Jharkhand: A former member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) was shot dead by unidentified men on his way home from a river ghat where he had gone to observe Chhath puja rituals on Thursday, according to a senior police officer. The  Maoist Kedar Thakur was shot and killed by six men on three motorcycles at Kolgay village in the Keredari police station area around 6.30 a.m., according to Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan Chouthe.

The assailants are suspected to be members of the banned organisation. After serving time in Hazaribag Central Jail for criminal activities, the victim, who was in his 40s, had distanced himself from all Maoist-related operations, according to Chouthe.

According to the Superintendent of Police, a search operation has been launched in the district, and Thakur's body has been sent for a post-mortem.

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