Maoists kill ex-cadre in Odisha

A Maoist, who had surrendered before the police along with five others last month, was killed by the rebels in Malkangiri district, the police said today.

The Maoists dragged Raju Hantal of Siliguma village out of his house on the night of October 12 and took him with them. The villagers found his body bearing marks of sharp weapon in the nearby forests the next day, a delayed police report said.

Siliguma under Paparmetla police station area is located in a remote area across Chitrakonda reservoir.

"Yes, we have got information about the killing", Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh said.

The Maoists had asked Hantal the reason behind his surrender and why he had spoken against them, the police quoted the villagers as saying.

Hantal and the five other ultras, who were active in Chitrakonda-Poplur Dalam for over five years, had surrendered before Akhileswar Singh on September 23 alleging that the Maoists had deviated from their ideology.

Besides, there was ill-treatment and discrimination by senior leaders, he had told the police.

No one had filed complaint in this connection. The body had been handed over to his family members