Suspected Maoist cadres abducted 10 people, among them one woman, on Monday from Naxalite-infested Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The tribal villagers were abducted from four villages, Kotpad, Madagaon, Botha and Moode.

“The villagers are between 15 and 25 years of age and we believe that the Naxals will make an effort to indoctrinate them so that they join the Naxalite ranks,” said G P Singh, Superintendent of Police (Bastar). Combing operations have been launched and several police parties have been sent to the area to help track down the villagers. However, utmost caution is being taken so as to avert any ambush, he added.

This, however, is not the first time that Naxalites have targeted civilians in the area. On June 24, Maoist cadres allegedly abducted 13 people, including six women and three children, from Maraiguda village in Dantewada district while they were returning from a wedding party. Ten of them are still missing.

In another incident, on June 10, Maoists kidnapped 12 people from Dantewada and Narayanpur districts of the area. Two of these tribals, were later killed by Naxalites and their bodies dumped near the roadside.

Police sources claimed that extremists have been targeting the tribal population in order to gather intelligence inputs regarding the Salwa Judum operations. “Over the past few months there has been a marked increase in such incidents. We believe that Naxalite cadres are trying to seek information regarding personnel deployment, force movement and other local intelligence,” a senior police officer said.