RAIPUR: Maoist insurgents recently thrashed a four-month-old baby to death before burying him in presence of his wailing mother in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said on Saturday.

Bastar range inspector general of police S R P Kalluri said the baby was hit with a rod repeatedly in Bijapur’s Todka village.

He said the infant’s father, Tati Aaytu, reported the murder to Gangaloor police station.

Aaytu told cops Maoists had recently abducted him along with his wife, sister and the infant, Somaru, and beaten them during a jan adalat (kangaroo court).

Aytu had managed to escape from Maoist captivity and infuriated his captors.

The Maoists avenged his escape by killing the baby and burying him in presence of his mother , who was later released.

Tati took two-three days to muster courage to report the matter to police, who have filed a case against rebels Dula Oyam, Masa Tati and Mangu Tati.

Police have launched an operation to arrest the accused. A police officer said an anti-Maoist operation was in full swing in the region and the three would be nabbed soon.

Maoists have been under pressure as a result of the operation, which has led to arrests and killings of many rebels. Several others have been forced to surrender.

A recent Maoist press note said 70 rebels have been killed recently while 26 surrendered in Sukma district on December 9.

Two BSF soldiers were wounded when Maoists triggered a landmine in Kanker to avenge killing of six rebels, including four women, last month.

A Chhattisgarh Armed Forces jawan was killed in Sukma earlier this month.