Maoists torch bikes, tractor in Odisha village

A group of Maoists attacked a tribal village in Koraput district and torched four motorcycles and a tractor, police said today.
Though four villagers including the sarpanch have gone missing after the attack and locals were afraid they might have been abducted by Maoists, police were yet to confirm it.
The armed Maoists reached Tolo Goluru village situated along Odisha-Andhra border under Pottangi police station last night and torched the motorbikes and the tractor.
Villagers claimed that the ultras had taken four persons along with them while leaving the village.
SDPO (Sunabeda) V R Rao, however, said, "The villagers are missing but we are yet to ascertain their whereabouts. Whether they have been kidnapped by the Maoists or hiding somewhere due to fear is under investigation."

The Maoists left posters in the village claiming that the incident was a fallout of the March 4 incident at nearby Mungulivalsa village in which two Maoists were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces.
The posters asserted that the police had taken help of villagers in that operation.
Koraput SP Awinash Kumar, however, said, "We had not sought help of villagers in the March 4 operation.