Cong alleges innocents slain in encounter

Jagdalpur, Dec 26 (UNI) The Congress has claimed that two tribal youths -- who hailed from Chhattisgarh's tribal-dominated, naxalism-affected Kanker district and were neutralised in a December 22 encounter at Gadchiroli in neighbouring Maharashtra -- were innocent.

The deceased were identified as Pakhajoor's Sual and Renu, both aged 20.

Former Congress MLA Manturam Pawar led irate villagers who gheraoed the Pakhajur Police station yesterday and a bandh was called in the area today.

''The duo were conveying a television and generator to a village when they were caught by a Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra joint patrol.

The youths were taken across the state border and shot,'' Mr Pawar alleged.

UNI XC-AC 1644