PNN
Malkangiri/Mathili, July 17: Maoists Friday released 11 persons they had abducted from Mahupadar and nearby areas in Malkangiri district. They were released after their cases were heard in a Praja court held by the ultras.
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According to reports, nine armed guerrillas entered the village Wednesday night and kidnapped seven persons including the ward member of the village. The abductees were Nakul Pujari, Hari Durua, Paban Durua, Indra Durua, Udaynath Kalar, Khageswar Kumbhar and Sima Challan. Similarly, three persons and a forest guard of the village were abducted again late Thursday night.
The Reds secretly held the court in a jungle near the border of Mahupadar village Friday afternoon to pronounce the verdict. The Maoists heard the opinion of all 11 persons. They were released after found to be innocent.
Meanwhile, panic gripped several villages including Mahupadar, Kamarpali, Mundaguda, Salimi and Kiang as abduction cases were frequent in the villages. Fearing more such cases, the men of nearby areas have deserted the villages.
Maoists of Darbha Division might have been involved in the kidnapping cases as the villages are close to the inaccessible hilly region of Chhattisgarh, the police suspected.
