Maoists have killed eight upper caste men in Vempenta village in Kurnool district in the early hours of yesterday. The incident is being attributed to caste conflict between the dalits and upper castes in the faction-ridden village. According to state police, a group of Maoists descended on the village under Pamulapadu mandal near Nandikotkur town last night. They took away 50 villagers to the forest area on the pretext of talking to them over a local issue. After discussing with them for some time, the Maoists kept them at a secluded place. Suddenly, the dalam (armed squad commander) came in and called the eight men one by one and shot them dead. The other villagers were let off with a warning in the morning. The police said that the village had a long history of caste conflict between the dalits and the upper castes. In 1998, the Naxalites had killed the village sarpanch belonging to an upper caste. The Naxalites had been supporting the dalits in their fight with upper castes. In the same year, the supporters of the slain sarpanch had killed nine People's War supporters in a retaliatory attack in the village. The victims belonged to dalit community. Ever since, caste conflict has been simmering in the village. The eight persons who were killed yesterday belonged to upper castes. One of them was from Reddy caste. The victims were supporters of the Congress and Telugu Desam Party. The hands and legs of two victims were also chopped off.