Raipur, June 15 (IANS) A Congress leader was killed by unidentified assailants in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist stronghold Bastar district Tuesday but his family ruled out the guerrillas’ involvement, police said.

Sankata Prasad Tiwari was attacked in the wee hours at his house, about 18 km from district headquarters Jagdalpur town. The assailants slit his throat with sharp-edged weapons.

He was rushed to Maharani Hospital at Jagdalpur, where he was declared brought dead.

Police said they have begun a probe and are looking into all angles.

But family members of the deceased ruled out a Maoist-role in the killing, officials at the police headquarters here told IANS.