Date:20/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052059680600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Maoists kidnap four persons

Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM: Four persons, including a sarpanch, were kidnapped by Maoists from the tribal villages in Bhadrachalam division in the early hours on Monday.

However, unofficial sources claimed that some 11 persons were kidnapped by the Maoist dalams which came from the neighbouring forests pockets of south Bastar.

The sub-divisional police officer of Bhadrachalam, Shashidhar Raj, informed that Khanithi Narsaiah, sarpanch of Kurnavalli village, Karam Kannaiah from Erraboru village and Sunnam Venkat Rao and Sunnam Rambabu from Bathinapalli village were whisked away from their home by the Maiosts around midnight.

Search operation

A large number of militants, especially the Gothi Koya tribesmen from the Chhattisgarh villages, accompanied the Maoist dalams. The police launched a massive operation in search of the kidnapped persons on the inter-State border.

There is still no trace of a tribal youth, Dubba Chander Rao, who was kidnapped from Tippapuram in Charla mandal 10 days ago.