Bhubaneswar, June 3: More than a hundred tribal people of 60 families today left their villages in the "cut-off" area (Bicchinanchal) of Malkangiri district, bordering Andhra Pradesh, about 600km from here, fearing threat to their lives from Maoists.

The villagers have sought police protection as well. They have taken shelter in a camp near the residence of the Malkangiri superintendent of police. The cut-off area has 151 villages and lacks necessary infrastructure facilities.

A panic-stricken villager, Judhisthira Hental, 52, said: "Only a few days ago, the rebels had killed two villagers, suspecting them to be police informers. Every night, they come to our village and unleash terror. We are in constant fear of being killed."

Another villager Dhanakhara Hental, 48, said: "The rebels have put up signboards with their names on them. If we go back, they will slit our throats."

Hental further said the Maoists continued to beat them regularly and even torch their houses. "As we have no other option left, we have been forced to leave our villages." Even the schoolchildren have accompanied their parents to the camp.

Malkangiri superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said: "The tribal people belong to Andrapalli panchayat of Chitrakonda block. We are taking steps to rehabilitate them and write to the government to deploy the Boarder Security Force in their area."

Mohapatra said efforts were being made to impart a free, three-month vocational training to these tribal families to help them eke out a living.

Incidentally, director-general of police Sanjeev Marik today flew to Balangir district in west Odisha to get a review of the Maoist situation. "The operation against the Maoists will be intensified. Today, I visited a number of villages in the Maoists-affected belt and interacted with the people. They demanded good roads and other facilities - which would be communicated to the government shortly."

Marik said the Maoists had lost much ground in Malkangiri and Koraput districts, which were earlier their major bases. "Now, they are trying to regroup themselves and build up their base again. However, Odisha police will foil their attempts."

Marik last week had visited Malkangiri and Koraput districts to get a review of the Maoist situation. He had also visited the cut-off area.

In another development, the Odisha government has intensified its effort to construct the Gurupirya bridge to facilitate communication in the area.

Moreover, the Maoists have appealed to the villagers to return to their homes. "We have only punished those who act as the police informers and not the innocent people."