Suspected Naxal terrorists shot dead a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Sunil Kumar Mahato, two security guards, and a party secretary. Apparently, about 15 Naxals approached the event where Mahato was officiating pretending to garland him and shot him at point blank range.

The motive for the killing is unknown. The JMM is a discredited party where the chief Shibu Soren has been imprisoned for ordering the hit of an estranged aide. Nearly 200 paramilitary personnel are combing the area for the escaped Naxalities.