Bhawanipatna, Oct. 26 (PTI): Suspected Maoists allegedly killed two persons, including a village guard of Katlanga in Kalahandi district today after kidnapping them, police said. Chemu Harijan, village guard of Katlang, was allegedly killed by the rebels, who slit his throat, Kalahandi SP Brijesh Ray said.

Harijan's bike, which was gutted in fire, was also recovered from a nearby spot.

The body of Lalu Naik of Salpang village was found in a nearby forest area, the SP said. The rebels had apparently thrown Naik's body into the jungle after slitting his throat, he said.

The Maoists apparently suspected that Harijan had passed on information to the police to track down one Sangita, a woman cadre of the outfit on October 15, police said, quoting Harijan's wife.

She told the cops that Maoists had killed him under suspicion of being a police informer and took away his Aadhaar, ration, and voter's ID cards as well as his bank passbook. Harijan and Naik were among eight persons allegedly kidnapped from three villages by the rebels earlier. While six were released yesterday, the bodies of Chemu and Lalu were found today, the police said.

The SP said a close watch was being kept on the development. An alert has been sounded to the CRPF, SOG and district police.

The Maoists are active in 10 of the 13 blocks in the backward Kalahandi district.

The tribal-dominated Lanjigarh, Bhawanipatna, M Rampur, Thuamul Rampur, Golamunda, Junagarh and Koksara blocks are highly Maoist-affected, the police said.