Maoists killed a local contractor and caused grievous injuries to a businessman at Balipeta village near Narayanpatna in Koraput district late on Monday night, police sources said.
The ultras attacked contractor Sarat Subuddhi and smalltime trader Upendra Pandu of Balipeta when they had gone to a mango orchard on the outskirts of the village to relieve themselves.
The Maoists slit the throats of both and left the spot assuming that they were dead. But while Subudhhi bled to death on the spot, Pandu, who sustained serious injuries in his neck and throat, was alive when locals spotted the victims. Pandu was admitted to a hospital here. The Maoists targeted them because they were allegedly working for the police, local sources said.