Suspected Maoists kidnap Congress leader

Maoists kidnapped a Congress leader and a former TDP panchayat ward member in Koyyuru mandal early on Sunday.

A group comprising 12 to 13 members, which included two women, kidnapped Koyyuru mandal Congress president and a popular leader in the area, Kone Somaiah, and former panchayat ward member of Makavaram, Kakarla Balaiah, in two separate incidents after waking them up from their sleep. The distance between the villages where they were staying was four to five kilometres. “As per information received by us, the same group was involved in both the incidents. Till late in the evening, no one has claimed ransom or made any other demand,” SP Vineet Brijlal told The Hindu.