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PATNA: Maoists killed two villagers and injured a woman at Garurbad village of Barmoriya panchayat under the Chakai police station area in Jamui district on Tuesday night. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ghulam (32) and Mohammad Usman Ansari (38). The Maoists suspected them to be police informers, sources said.

Police sources said around 15 Maoists barged into the houses of the victims and shot them dead after tying their hands. The incident took place around 11pm when both the families were asleep.

Jhajha SDPO Bhasker Ranjan told this newspaper on Wednesday that Maoist leaders Sindhu Koda, Karuna and Pintu Rana, along with their armed cadre barged into Ghulam’s house and killed him. “Thereafter, they targeted Usman, whose house is a few metres away from Ghulam’s. The Maoists dragged Usman out of his house, tied his hands and shot him dead. Usman’s wife Sarbina Khatoon sustained injuries when she protested,” he said, adding the armed Maoists fired several rounds in the air to terrorize the villagers.

The police also recovered a parchment near their homes, which read: “Police mukhbiron ko yahi saza (punishment for being a police informer).”

Sources said prima facie the two were killed on suspicion of being police informers. “A few days ago, Maoist Darogi Yadav was arrested from Garurbad. He was carrying a reward on his head. The Maoists suspected Usman and Ghulam’s role as police informers in Darogi’s arrest,” a police officer said.

SDPO Ranjan said the statement of family members of the deceased was not recorded yet. “The police team and SSB’s 7th battalion have been deployed in the area. A joint operation has been launched by district police and CRPF to nab the Maoists involved in the incident,” he said.

“The injured woman has been admitted to a local hospital, where her condition was stated to be out of danger. The bodies were sent to Jamui Sadar hospital for postmortem,” said Ranjan.

Meanwhile, the villagers staged protest and demanded arrest of the accused.

