Hyderabad, April 19 -- In the run-up to the Lok Sabha Elections, Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bastar constituency and adjacent areas have killed at least nine BJP workers. The last such attack on a BJP worker was reported within 48 hours before he constituency goes to polls.

According to reports, BJP's deputy sarpanch Panchamdas Manikpuri was hacked to death in front of his family on Tuesday, April 16. The Maoists West Bastar division committee claimed responsibility for the attack.

The assailants broke the door of Panchamdas' house and barged in at night. He was accused of being a police informer. "He didn't heed the earlier warning. That is why he was killed in front of his family," Maoists are reported to have said.

The attack is said ...