Maoists kill tribal in Maharashtra district

Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Jan 15 (ANI): In yet another incident of cold- blooded murder, the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) killed a tribal in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli District.

Maoists killed 29-year-old Rajesh Manglu Pungati at Bandia village in the district on Thursday late evening by slitting his throat.

The incident occurred just two days after the Maharashtra State Home Minister R R Patil visited the district.

Patil went unarmed, and without any security cover, riding pillion on a motorcycle of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) worker in an attempt to infuse confidence among the tribal community.

This is the second murder by Naxalites in last five days by slitting throats in the district.

On January 10, Forest Guard Saidas Chichghare and security guard Gautam Durge, were found with their throats slit in a nullah near Garanji village of the district.

Gadchiroli came into news in October 2009 when Maoists ambushed a police patrol and gunned down at least 18 policemen in a jungle stretch near Lehri village.

Before 2009, there was no single Maoists related incident in the Gadchiroli District, but within last one year 34 violent activities have been reported from the this tribal dominated district.

The repeated slaughtering of civilians and security personnel shows Maoists' desperation to take control over the district by terror. (ANI)