Maoists abduct five villagers; loot three houses

MALKANGIRI (Orissa): At least five persons were abducted by armed Maoists, who also looted three houses, including that of a policeman, at a remote village in Orissa's Malkangiri district, police said.

The ultras raided Potteru village under MV-79 police station, about 85 km from here, along Andhra Pradesh border last night and called five persons out of their houses, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Anirudh Singh said.

The five persons, including a village head and a ward member, were then taken into dense forests by the ultras, he said, adding the kidnapped persons were yet to be traced.

The Naxals described the hostages as "police informers".

Forming separate groups, the ultras also looted at least three houses in the village, including that of a special police officer (SPO), Ramachandra Madkami, and decamped with valuables and household items, police said.