Malkangiri: At least five tribals were severly beaten up by Maoists suspecting them as police informers and also for casting votes in the three-tire panchayat elections in Malkangiri district, police said today.


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The incident took place on Sunday night when a group of about 15 armed Maoists entered Mundaguda and Kamarpali villages and forcibly took away the five persons and produced them at a "Praja Court" of Maoists at Tandipadar jungle near Tulasi Hills.


The five tribals were beaten up and asked not to take the matter to the police. The rebels, however, released all of them issuing threat of dire consequences if they continued to work for police. All the victims are currently undergoing treatment, they said.


Meanwhile, police have intensified combing operations in the area, said Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra adding that a joint forces of Odisha and Chhattisgarh would soon be launched to flush out the Maoists from the area.
The SP said the Maoists were disheartened over peaceful and incident less polling for the panchayat elections.