Raipur, April 19 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas shot dead two special police officers (SPOs) in Chhattisgarh, police said Saturday. About 15-20 rebels armed with AK-47 and self-loading rifles entered a village in Narayanpur district and shot dead the two men after tying their hands, Deputy Inspector General of police Pawan Deo told IANS over telephone.

The site of the attack is some 290 km south of Raipur. The two SPOs were identified as Firtu Maria, 25, and Mangtu, 26.

They left pamphlets near the bodies threatening violence against people who back the police in anti-Maoist drives.

Chhattisgarh has appointed about 4,500 youths as SPOs in Maoist-hit areas of Bastar region on a monthly pay of Rs.1,500 to assist the police in dismantling the rebel network.