Armed Maoists killed a contractor by slitting his throat in Odisha's Malkangiri district on Friday, apparently protesting the work undertaken by him in the backward region.
The agreement on the release of Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon may end up serving the long-term interests of Maoists, said people close to the developments.
Ejaz Kaiser reports.
Three days after being freed by Maoists, Odisha MLA Jhina Hikaka on Sunday said the ultras are likely to release a fresh audio message which could clear the air over his possible resignation as a legislator.
The realities of the Naxal belt are grittier than one imagined,
Ajay Agarwal finds out.
With no sign that Maoists holding MLA Jhina Hikaka would release him soon, Odisha government is exploring back channel negotiations with the ultras to strike a swap deal which could see some jailed Naxals walking free.
Abductors of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka have sent a letter to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, signed by Maoist leader Jagabandhu and Daya as well as Hinaka.
Priya Ranjan Sahu reports.
Maoists on rampage 
While Maoists have had security agencies in the ‘red corridor’ on tenterhooks for years now, the roles were reversed this month, when as many as 3,000 heavily-armed CRPF and state personnel entered the dense forests of Abujmarh from four directions.
The elite anti-Maoist force CoBRA, raised by the Centre, has been withdrawn from West Bengal, apparently in the wake of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s push for peace talks with the rebels.
The Left Front along with TDP and JD(S) today submitted a memorandum to home minister P Chidamabram, alleging existence of a nexus between the Maoists and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
See specialFive suspected Maoists were arrested on Wednesday night in connection with the murder of Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) youth wing leader in West Bengal's West Midnapore district, police said.
At least 16 members of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist were arrested on Thursday from Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region, police said.
The CPI(M) today alleged that Maoists and organisations backed by them were mobilising people for the August 9 rally of Trinamool Congress at Lalgarh in West Bengal, which would again lead to tension in the area.
Road and rail services were badly affected in Jharkhand due to a 48-hour strike called by Maoists that began on Tuesday, officials said.
The Maoists have urged people not to board trains on the two days of their Bharat Bandh on Wednesday and Thursday to protest the killing of their leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad by the Andhra Pradesh Police in an alleged fake encounter on July 1.
A hardcore Maoist, suspected to be involved in forcing rural youth in the area to join armed struggle, has been arrested and two firearms recovered by security forces in Bishnugarh area of Hazaribagh district.