Maoists in Andhra's East Godavari district reportedly killed a pastor and abducted another person late on Friday night.
The incident took place in the Chintoor mandal and the abducted person was released on Saturday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Uike Maratta with the Maoists claiming that the incident was carried out on the charge that they were police informers.
A report in the Times of India adds:
According to police sources, late on Friday night, more than 100 naxals and militia members entered Lachigudem village and dragged pastor Marayya out of his house and took him to the forests.There they beat him severely with sticks before slitting his throat. The Maoists also left a letter near the body with the warning. They also accused the Chintoor and Nellipak police of harassing innocent people by branding them as naxal sympathizers.
Speaking to TOI, Chintoor circle inspector V Durga Rao said, “Chintoor mandal shares its borders with Chhattisgarh. Maoists commit offences here and cross the border within hours."
This incident comes ten days after DGP J V Ramudu asserted that, Post-bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh Police were able to effectively contain the Maoist problem despite facing shortage of manpower and funds.