Malkangiri: Maoists gunned down two persons suspecting them as police informers in Malkangiri district, police said on Monday.
The victims have been identified as Deba Sodi and Erma Banjarni of Silakota village under Padia Police Station area of the district. The duo were abducted from their houses on January 25 night and killed yesterday after producing them at the Maoist's praja court, they said.
"Two persons have been killed by the Maoists at Silakota village. But, they were never police informers,"Malkangiri district SP Akileswar Singh told reporters.
Family members of those deceased, however, have cremated the bodies without informing the police about the incident, villagers said.
Meanwhile, the Maoists's Malkangiri Division spokesperson Poonam Chanra in an audio message claimed that they have killed the duo as their information had helped the police to launch an attack on ultras on September 13 last year when around 13 rebels were killed, police said.
Chanra also cautioned that more people from Silakota village would face the same fate as they have been working as police informer, police said, adding that she has also adviced them to tender apology for working as police informers in order to save their lives.
Around 18 innocent persons including 16 tribals, have been killed since April last year by the Maoists branding them as police informers.