Bodies of two tribal youths murdered by Maoists were recovered on the outskirts of Kanaguda village under Kalimela police station in Malkangiri district of Odisha on Thursday morning.
According to police sources, they were identified as Soma Madkami and Rama Madhi of Kanaguda village. Both had been shot dead from close range. Both deceased were in their twenties. These murders are suspected to retaliatory action of Maoists against continuing surrender of their supporters in the district. A hand written letter of Maoists was found near the dead bodies. Through the letter Naxalites had claimed that both have been sentenced to death as they were police informers and were helping anti-Maoist operations. The message also claimed that both the deceased were catalysts behind surrender of several Maoist supporters of the area.
As per localites, a group of armed Maoists had reached the homes of these two youths at around midnight on October 14. They had dragged away Madkami and Madhi with them. Bullet ridden bodies of both these youths were located on the outskirts of the village on Thursday morning.
After receiving information, a police team from Kalimela police station rushed to the spot. Combing operation was intensified in the area. The police officials reiterated that both deceased had no links with the police and they had become soft targets for terror tactics of Maoists. Since August 31 around one thousand Maoist supporters including around 100 militias have surrendered in Malkangiri district. Most of them were from Kalimela and Mathili police station areas.
The police officials allege frustrated by their dwindling support base naxalites have started killing innocent tribal civilians in these areas as part of their effort to keep live reign of terror. On Sept 20, Maoists had murdered a tribal named Trinath Madhi in Mathili police station area. Another tribal named Arjun Khara had been killed by Maoists at Kandhabuda village under Mathili police station on Octorber 3 night.
