Bhubaneswar, Dec. 26: Suspected Maoists have killed two persons, including a sarpanch, in the rebel-dominated Malkangiri district, about 500km from here, police said today.

A group of heavily armed rebels stormed into the house of Jayaram Khara, sarpanch of Badapadar panchayat, dragged him out and slit his throat inside a nearby forest last night, the police said. The Maoists shouted slogans dubbing Khara as a police informer before vanishing into the forests.

In another incident, suspected Maoists killed a man identified as S. Badnayak, brother of a former sarpanch, in Kudumulgumma Raba village last night. Sources said the rebels took Badnayak away from his house at night. His body was found this morning with the throat slit.

Badnayak had received death threats in the past. Hand-written posters were found near the site pointing to the involvement of the Maoists.

Senior police officials as well as BSF jawans rushed to the spot and combing in the area has been intensified.

Maoists surrender

Seven Maoists today surrendered before Malkangiri police. District superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said the rebels had been active in various parts of the district.

Malkangiri has been the hotbed of Maoist activities for more than a decade now. The rebels are most active in the inaccessible parts, officially called "cut-off" area. More than 20 panchayats are located in this belt located beyond the Kalimela reservoir with boats being the only means of communication with the mainland.

However, hopes of people in this area leading normal lives have been ignited by the commencement of work on the Gurupriya bridge. The project is being executed under the surveillance of BSF jawans.