Naxals killed one of their former colleagues who had surrendered before police three days ago in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Dantewada district, an official said.
Podia alias Gandhi Wadde (55), who had surrendered on August 26, was stabbed to death by the Naxals at his village Cholnar, 400 km from Raipur, last night, said district Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gorakhnath Baghel.
After his surrender, Wadde had been advised by police to stay with his son who works with National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in Kirandul, he said.
But Wadde decided to visit his village thinking that his old associates would not harm him, the ASP said.
However, the Naxals killed him brutally in front of villagers, the officer said.
A search operation was launched in the region to trace the assailants, he added.
Wadde was allegedly involvedin blowing up of a police vehicle in Cholnar area on May 20 this year in which seven police personnel were killed, the ASP said.