NEW DELHI - Maoist rebels have stormed a village in eastern India, killing five villagers and wounding 18, police said on Saturday, bringing the week’s toll from guerrilla raids to 27.The raid occurred in a remote area of Chattisgarh state. “About 40 rebels raided the tribal village of Bijapur (late Friday), dragged them from their respective homes, lined them up and thrashed them badly, allegedly for supporting the police,” O.P. Rathore, the state’s director general of police, told AFP by telephone. He said five villagers were killed and 18 were wounded in the attack.
IndiaÂ’s Maoists have bases in several southern and eastern Indian states and have recently stepped up attacks.