MALKANGIRI: A group of armed Maoists from Chhattisgarh on Tuesday allegedly abducted and mercilessly bashed up five tribals of Mahupadar and Kamarpali villages under Mathili police limits in Odisha's Malkangiri district after they were suspected to be police informers, police said on Wednesday.
Sources said as many as 40 left wing extremists, cadres of Kangerghati Dalam of Chhattisgarh, barged into the houses of Deba Madkami of Mahupadar and Rama Kawasi, Unga Kawasi, Rame Madhi and Chaitanya Madhi of Kamarpali and bound their hands before forcibly taking them on Monday night.
Chaitanya Madhi said the extremists armed with guns and other sharp weapons arrived at his house when he was asleep with family members, who were assaulted when they protested the attack. His hands were bound before he was dragged out of the house, he added.
“The red rebels made us walk nearly five km inside the Tulsi forest. They took us to an isolated place in the forest and thrashed us black and blue after branding us as police informers, and freed us after threatening not to keep in touch with police,” said Deba Medakami, another victim.
Meanwhile, police have intensified combing operations in the nearby forests and anti-naxal forces of both Odisha and Chhattisgarh are conducting a joint operation, said a senior police official.