Maoists kill three tribals in Maharashtra

In what appears to be a retaliatory strike, outlawed Maoists killed three tribals on suspicion of being police informers, in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.

The three persons from Kasnasur village are believed to have tipped off police that resulted in the 22-23 April, 2018 twin encounters, in which at least 40 Maoists were killed.

The deceased were identified as Malu Dogo Madvi, Kanna Rainu Madvi and Lalsu Kalyeti. "Couple of days ago, six villagers were abducted by Maoists from the Kasnasur village on suspicion that they were police informers," Gadchiroli district police and administration officials told DH over phone.

While three of them were killed, three others Dalsu Devu Panguti, Munshi Gahe Madvi and Vinu Devu Talandi were released. The bodies of the three villagers were recovered from Pomke Tadgaon in Bhamragad sub-division on Tuesday.

"The deceased were innocent villagers," said tribal rights activist and lawyer Lalsu Nagori, who is a member of Arewada-Nelgunda Zilla Parishad.

Gadchiroli district's superintendent of police Shailesh Balkawade said that the police is providing all help to villagers. Several villagers have reached the Tadgaon police help centre because of the fear of a repeat strike by Maoists.

It may be recalled in April last year, the Gadchiroli police in an Anti-Naxalite Operations of Maharashtra police and 9th Batallion of Central Reserve Police Force killed at least 40 Naxalites in two encounters - which was the biggest anti-Maoist operation in terms of casualties inflicted and came a year after the 50th year of Naxalbari movement.

The encounters had taken place in Boria Kasnasur jungles off the Indravati river in Tadgaon in Bhamragad tehsil and Rajaram Khandla post in Jimalgatta forests in Aheri tehsil.

The operation was based on specific intelligence - and there were reports that some villagers may have tipped off cops of the movement and assembly of the large group of Naxals.