"On May 23, nine police personnel including ASP Rajesh Pawar attained martyrdom. Since then, constable Hola Ram Sahu had gone gone missing," Additional DGP (Naxal Operation) Ram Niwas said.
"A jeep-driver today spotted Sahu lying in an unconscious state on a road in Dhawalpur village in Gariaband. The driver informed the Mainpur police station and Sahu was later admitted to a hospital," the officer said.
He added that few days back, the police had got reports that Sahu was in the custody of Naxals and he had also reportedly made attempts to establish contacts with his family. Following this, a posse of policemen was sent to the forest area to trace him.
"Marks were found on Sahu`s body, which show that he was subject to physical torture. He is the only eyewitness of the incident and he can throw light on what exactly happened at that time," Niwas said.
A 10-member police team led by ASP Rajesh Pawar was ambushed by the ultras in Sonabed jungle, which falls in Chhattisgarh and is close to the Orissa border.