15 tribals shot by Maoists

KHAMMAM: In an obvious attempt to avenge the March-18 encounter at Kanchala village in Bijapur district of Chattisgarh in which 17 of their comrades were killed, the Moists shot down 11 Girijans and four Salwa Judum volunteers a week ago holding them responsible for tipping off the police about their movements.

The abducted Judum cadres were brought to the Kanchala village and subjected to torture for a week. It is reliably learnt that Maoists had conducted a people’s court in the village Thursday night before all the 15 tribals were shot down.

However, Khammam Superintendent of Police DS Chowhan and his Bijapur district counterpart Ankit Garg neither confirmed the incident nor denied it.

One Pandu of Chattisgarh, who was running a grinding mill at Tippapuram village, was done to death by Maoists three days ago holding him responsible for leading the police to the site where Maoists were killed.