Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28: Anti-Maoist operations were stepped up throughout Orissa today even as the rebels killed an alleged police informer in Narayanpatna of Koraput.

Narayanpatna is the stronghold of the Maoist-backed Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), an organisation campaigning against the non-tribal landlords of the area.

Sources said the alleged police informer, Mishra Khosla, 35, a Dalit whose brother operated two passenger jeeps in the Naxal-infested area, was kidnapped by armed rebels last night from Mankidi village.

Villagers found his body, its throat slit, on the outskirts of the village this morning.

The rebels also burnt down the two jeeps that Khosla’s brother operated between Mankidi and Ichhapur.

They left behind posters and letters written in Telugu, which indicated that Khosla worked closely with the police. An intensive combing operation was launched in the area in the wake of the killing.

In a related development, two police constables posted in the rebel-infested Chitrakonda of neighbouring Malkangiri district were placed under suspension following charges of extortion.

Sources said departmental proceedings were also initiated against them after Rs 17,000 in cash was recovered from their possession. The action followed a complaint by a businessman that the two were collecting money from people.