Rajendra Sribastab had gone to his home village on a motorcycle for the funeral of a relative who had drowned. He was the mayor of Gularia until forced to resign three months ago due to Maoist threats. As a precaution, he had taken along policeman Ratna Singh Tharu. Maoists abducted Sribastab from the funeral procession, took him a distance away and beheaded him with a sword while he still had his helmet on. Later, they dumped his body on the fuenral pyre of his relative where it was only partially burned. The 54-year-old ex-mayor had pleaded for his life before his execution. But a Maoist commander said, "Cut him, cut him." Then one of the Maoists slashed his throat from the front and behind. Policeman Tharu was later released on condition he would resign from the force, and he is too shocked to speak. Sribastab's wife, Kumud, is in deep shock. "I never imagined they would be so cruel," she said as she wept. Sribastab has three sons and two daughters. The Maoists had accused him of various 'anti-people' crimes. Large numbers of people attended a memorial service on Tuesday, where Sribastab's remains were gathered and cremated on another pyre.