A group of men and women allegedly attacked Tangapalli village in Maoist-affected Malkangiri district, but villagers managed to capture 16 of them, the police said.
Around 40 people armed with sharp weapons allegedly attacked the village late last night but the villagers overpowered 16 of them, while others fled, Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said.
The villagers claimed that the 16, including two women, were Maoists and detained them in a school building.
The detainees, however, said they were from a nearby village and were searching for a girl of their village who, they heard, had arrived at Tangapalli with someone.
Inspector In-Charge of Malkangiri police station R K Das said police personnel have been sent to the village.
It was alleged that the outsiders attacked houses including that of naib sarpanch Bhagaban Padiami while the villagers retailated and detained 16 persons.
Naib sarpanch of the village Bhagban Padiami said his house was attacked by over 40 persons who claimed themselves to be Maoists and tried to take away goats, chicken and cattle.
