Raipur (IANS): Maoist guerrillas have killed five people in separate attacks on civilians in Chhattisgarh's violence-hit Bastar region, the police said on Sunday.

The incidents took place on Saturday in forested stretches in Bijapur district and the bodies were found dumped on roadsides along the national highways connecting Bijapur-Bhopalpattanam and Bijapur-Geedam in Dantewada district.

"All the deceased are male and tribals. They were killed with sharp edged weapons," Ankit Garg, Bijapur district superintendent of police, told IANS.

Para-military personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the district police force and Special Police Officers (SPOs) have launched a combing operation Sunday in the district to track down the insurgents.