In an open challenge to the security forces which gunned down a Maoist during a combing operation at the Niyamgiri forest near Dengamati village on the Kalahandi-Rayagada border on Saturday, the ultras on Sunday abducted two persons belonging to the Dongaria tribe from the Niyamgiri area.
The abducted persons of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) were identified as Shyama Sikaka of Dangamati village and ludu Wadeka of Khamesi village, sources said.
According to the sources, the Maoists abducted the duo from their villages suspecting them to be police informers.
Though it was yet to be confirmed who was behind the abduction, the involvement of Maoists was not ruled out, said senior police officials.
Meanwhile, police intensified the combing operation in the area, and efforts were on to trace the abducted tribals.
On Saturday, acting on a tipoff about the presence of the Red rebels, security personnel, led by Rayagada Superintendent of police K Siba Subramani, had launched the operation at the Niyamgiri forest.
While one Maoist was killed on the spot and two others were suspected to have been injured in the exchange of fire which lasted for more than two hours.
Two 9 MM pistols, a gun and a huge cache of explosives were seized during the operation.
Notably, Maoists had carried out a landmine explosion in the same area last month targeting security forces. However, no casualty was reported in the explosion.
