Ranchi, March 7 -  The mystery over the sensational murder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha - MP Sunil Mahato has deepened with few takers for the theory that Maoists were responsible, notwithstanding posters that have come up in some villages.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist - Tuesday seemed to have claimed responsibility for Mahato and four others in Jamshedpur Sunday through posters that stated: 'We have avenged the killing of nine Maoist members in Lango village. Sunil Mahato had supported the killing of Maoist activists.'
.

Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka agreed: 'I come from a Maoist-dominated area and I understand the functioning of Maoists. They don't claim responsibility after a day of the incident. And the posters have appeared far away from the scene of the crime.'

Chief Minister Madhu Koda said the police was trying to find out the authenticity of the posters.

The contradictory statements from Maoist groups have only added to the intrigue.

Revolutionary Democratic Front -, a frontal organisation of CPI-Maoist, has even denied any involvement of Maoists in the killing of JMM MP.

'We have no role in the killing of JMM MP. We condemn such incidents,' Jeetan Marandi, a senior rank activist of RDF, had said soon after the killing.

Not ruling out political rivalry as a possible motive, police here feel the mafia could have done the job and then pasted the posters to divert attention from themselves.

The state government has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation - inquiry into the murders.    RPG news