Raipur, Aug 1 - Maoist militants have killed a tribal man for not attending a public meeting organised by them in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, police said Saturday.

The rebels gunned down a Pahari Korva tribe member and assaulted his family members late Friday in Bhutha village in Surguja district, about 500 km from here.

'There is a report that Maoists forced a tribal family to attend their meeting. When they did not do so, the rebels shot dead the head of the family and beat up others,' Director General of Police Vishwaranjan told reporters here.

He added that five-six members of the tribal family were reportedly missing and a police team led by Surguja Inspector General of Police R.C. Patel had rushed to the spot Saturday morning to gather exact information.

Members of the Pahari Korba tribe live in caves and on hilltops far from other human settlements. The tribe is on the verge of extinction with an estimated population of just 30,000 left in state.