A 22-year-old Dongria tribal youth was murdered by the Maoists in Kalyansinghpur police station area of Rayagada district in Odisha on Wednesday night.
The victim, identified as Shyam Kadraka of Nirugundi village of Parsali panchayat, was hacked to death by a sharp weapon on the outskirts of the village. The body was found on Thursday morning.
A group of around 40 armed Naxalites had reached the village at late night and forcefully taken out the victim from his home.
Parsali panchayat is in a remote area in the Niyamgiri hills region and the Maoists are trying to increase their base in the area.
It is suspected that the Maoists had targeted Shyam accusing him of being a police informer.
Speaking to The Hindu , Rayagada Superintendent of Police K. Siva Subramani said Shyam was an unemployed tribal searching for a job and had no links with the police. “This appears to be an act of frustration by the Naxalites, who are losing ground because of increased area dominance by the security forces as well as support of the Dongria tribals towards developmental projects of the administration,” he said.
This recent murder has terrorised the tribal inhabitants of Nirugundi and adjoining villages.
The police personnel who reached for investigation found that all the villagers had left their homes to hide in the nearby forest. Mr. Subramani allayed fear of these villagers and promised all security to them.
