Maoists allege police 'links', kill 2 villagers in Jharkhand, Maharashtra

CHATRA/NAGPUR: Maoists killed a villager in Jharkhand's Chatra Sunday morning and another in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli Saturday night, on suspicion of their being police informers, report Visvendu Jaipuriar and Soumitra Bose.

Within 48 hours of a police station being opened in Nelgunda at foothills of Maoist stronghold Abujmarh in Gadchiroli, ex-panchayat samiti chairman Sukhram Madavi was killed at Kiyer for allegedly helping security forces set up permanent posts in the region.

"His body was found on the outskirts. Maoists had left a pamphlet near the body stating Madavi earned Maoists' ire for assisting police in opening posts to facilitate mining operations by private companies. Maoists were also angered by Madavi's alleged role in helping disenchanted cadres surrender to police," a source said.

Maoists are resisting economic activities in Bhamragarh, where they once had a strong presence.

In Chatra, breaking a period of relative calm, four to five Maoists hacked to death Vishnu Saw, of Lembuwa village, after kidnapping him from a forest where he had gone to graze cattle Sunday. The body was found along Tandwa-Balumath border, sparking fear of Maoists' renewed presence. SP Vikas Pandey said raids were being conducted to nab the accused.