Maoists have murdered two local tribal leaders of Talagoluru village under Pottangi police station in Koraput district of Odisha alleging them to be police informers.
They were among the four persons abducted by Naxalites on early Sunday morning. Their murder was confirmed on Monday.
As the village is situated around 95 kilometres from Koraput town, information on their kidnapping reached Koraput only around Sunday afternoon. Security forces then rushed to the area.
A group of armed Maoists had torched four bikes and a tractor in the village and had abducted four persons, said Koraput Superintendent of Police (SP) Awinash Kumar. The abducted persons were former sarpanch Taudu Pateli; his wife; sarpanch Baladaboi Pati; and his brother-in-law Baladaboi Simalu.
According to Inspector General of Police (IGP), south-western range, Yashwant Jethwa, the victims of Maoist brutality were Mr. Pateli and Mr. Simalu. The other two abducted persons have returned safely.
Through banners and posters left in the village, Srikakulam-Koraput Divisional Committee of Maoists claimed its involvement in the murders.
It was suspected that Maoist group led by Daya, Sarita and Aruna, who are part of the Committee, was involved in the killings, said Koraput SP.
Taudu Pateli has links with Maoists. The IGP said the former sarpanch was involved in Maoist activity. After the March 4 encounter near Talagoluru village, he was under suspicion of the Maoist leaders.
According to Mr Jethwa, Maoists killed the two as they suspected them to be involved in passing on information to the police which led to the encounter.
Two divisional commanders of naxalite outfit, Epe Swamy and Mala Sanjeeva, were killed in it. Both had reward of Rs. 5 lakh each on their heads. But police officers denied any links with them.
Mr Jethwa said the murders were due to frustration of Maoists who were losing ground in Koraput district. The police felt that the killings were nothing but terror tactics of Maoists to save their eroding base.
According to the police, several Maoists were trying to surrender and Naxalites were finding it hard to recruit new members.
