Nine villagers including three SPOs abducted by naxals

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Jan 30 (UNI) Nine villagers, including three Special Police Officers (SPOs) were today abducted by about 60 armed naxals at Ponjarnalal village, about 12 km from Bijapur district, police said.

The extremists halted two passenger jeeps at Gangaloor road in Ponjarnalal village and abducted nine villagers. SPO Podje Ramlal, SPO Ashok Mader and one other SPO were among the abducted, the police informed adding that they have launched a search to find the villagers.

Most of the policemen were moving in civil dresses in the naxal-affected areas to keep a watch.

The police suspected that the naxals have taken the other villagers thinking that they were either policemen or their friends.

Tribal youths were appointed as SPOs in naxal-affected areas, on a fixed honorarium.

Earlier, Jaigur village Sarpanch Atki Sonu (40) was killed by ultras last night. He was involved in an anti-naxal 'Salwa Judum' movement.

UNI XC-PS PY HS1930