Bhubaneswar :  Maoists killed a home guard attached to a police station in Odisha ahead of Independence Day, official said Tuesday.

A group of 10-15 rebels dragged 42-year-old Narayan Sunani from his home at Bhuliabandh village in district Bargarh, about 500 km from here Monday night, and killed him with a sharp weapon after branding him a police spy.

Sunani was working as a home guard at the local Paikmal police station, a senior district police official told IANS. Leaflets and posters the rebels left at the site asked people not to cooperate with the police.

They also appealed to people to observe Independence Day as a black day. In view of possible Maoist attacks, state and central forces have been deployed in Malkangiri, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Ganjam districts. These are considered to be rebel strongholds.

Vehicles are being checked at all entry points of vulnerable areas. Police patrolling has been intensified, a senior state police official said.