The Maoists have shot dead a former Ranji cricketer of Andhra Pradesh in Gothalpadar under Gunupur police station area in Rayagada district late on Thursday night.

The Maoists killed Rajendra Sahu suspecting him to be a police informer. Sahu hailed from Orissa and played for Andhra Pradesh in 2006-07, police said in Jeypore on Friday.

The 28-year-old Ranji player was married just 10 days back. He had gone to a nearby pond with his friend on Thursday night, when about four miscreants shot him dead.

This was the third killing by the Maoists in Rayagada district in the last three months.

The Maoists had also killed his father Nrusingha Sahu for the same reason five years back.

Rajendra was in their hit list since long and had informed both the Andhra Pradesh and Orissa Police about it, but no steps were taken in this regard, the sources said.