Bankura (West Bengal) Dec 26 : A Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader was shot dead by suspected Maoists at Barikul in Bankura District of West Bengal on Saturday.

The CPM local Committee secretary Rameshwar Murmu, was forcibly taken away from his residence at Bhulagara in the wee hours by an armed group of 15, who pushed aside his family members saying "Murmu deserved to be killed for his anti-people activities."

Shortly later the family heard gunshots. Police recovered Murmu's body from a nearby forest.

Police suspected Maoists, could be behind the attack.

Earlier this week Maoists killed four political activists, three of them from CPM and one from Jharkhand Party (Aditya), in West Midnapore district. (ANI)