Seven persons, mostly tribals, were kidnapped by armed Maoists from two villages in Kalimela area of Odisha's Malkangiri district early today, police sources said.
A village panchayat ward member, Tulasi Behera, was kidnapped from Chintanwada village and six others from Ramaguda after Maoists called them out of their homes, the sources said.
The six others were Budra Sodi, Budra Padiami, Deba Padiami, Suba Khara, Rama Behera and Jaga Madkami.
Earlier, Maoists had kidnapped three persons, including Padia Madi, the son of a village sarpanch of Gamphakunda, on December 4.
One of them escaped the next day, while the other two were released on December 7.
