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NAGPUR: In an apparent revenge strike , Maoists shot dead and slit the throats of three tribals from Kasnasur village after abducting them on Sunday. The bodies of the three villagers were found on Tuesday morning near Kosfundi village, around 4km from Kasnasur.

The south Gadchiroli division, a Maoist outfit, claimed responsibility for the killings in pamphlets left behind at the site. The Maoists lost 40 of their cadre on April 22 and 23 last year and they felt the three villagers had tipped off the police about their presence.

The deceased have been identified as Malu Madavi, Kanna Madavi, and Lalsu Kadyeti. The Maoists also abducted Dalsu Pungati, Munshi Madavi, and Venu Talandi but released them later.

Earlier, getting wind of the Maoist plan to kidnap and kill villagers in reprisals, many tribals had begun shifting from Kasnasur village to nearby hamlets like Tadgaon, Bhamragarh, and Aheri.

Shailesh Balkawade, SP of Gadchiroli, did not respond to TOI's calls and messages.

