Indian rights activist murdered

Unknown attackers have killed a senior civil rights activist, K Kanakachari, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, police say.

A senior member of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties committee (APCLC), his body was found hours after he went missing in a village on Wednesday.

Police say a little known organisation, Narsa Cobra, has said it carried out the killing.

Police suspect Mr Kanakachari was killed as an act of revenge.

A crude axe was found near his body with the words "Narsa Cobra" written on it in red paint.

Police suspect the incident could be a retaliation against the killing of a Congress party legislator ,C Narsi Reddy, and nine others by Maoist rebels earlier this month.

After that killing, the Narsa Cobra group issued a statement threatening to kill prominent Maoists and their supporters.

Mr Kanakachari's name was also found in their "hit-list", police say.