Two tribals, who had been abducted by Maoists last week, were killed by the rebels and their bodies were found dumped on the roadside in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Dantewada district, police said on Wednesday.
The two men, part of nine tribal daily workers taken hostage by Maoists on June 9, were axed to death, a police official said.
The tribals, including three women, were kidnapped from Konta area near the Andhra Pradesh border, over 500 km from here. Maoists had freed four men on June 10 and had not put forth any demands for releasing the remaining five.
"We found the bodies of two hostages early on Wednesday from Konta area. They had multiple injury marks, mainly from axes, around the neck," the official told IANS from Dantewada.
He said three women were still being held captive and that state police teams, along with a Mizo battalion, were combing the forested hideouts of Maoists to secure their safe release.
According to police estimates, around 5,000 hardcore Maoists armed with AK-47 rifles and landmines, backed by nearly 20,000 cadres, are active in Chhattisgarh, mainly in the southern districts of Bastar, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Kanker and Dantewada districts.
{{/usCountry}}According to police estimates, around 5,000 hardcore Maoists armed with AK-47 rifles and landmines, backed by nearly 20,000 cadres, are active in Chhattisgarh, mainly in the southern districts of Bastar, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Kanker and Dantewada districts.
{{/usCountry}}