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Maoists’ presence likely in Kerala forests: DGP
Kerala Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose on Wednesday said that there were Intelligence reports about the possible presence of Maoist extremists in the forests of Kerala. He, however, said that the police were unsure whether the extremists were indulging in any kind of activities.
“There is the suspicion that extremist elements having links with Maoists are present in the Kerala forests. Maoists from states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha have reportedly entered Kerala forests thinking that the State is a safe haven for them from the police forces in their states,” he said in Alappuzha.
“We don’t have any evidence to conclude that they are indulging in extremist activities here. It is believed that these people from outside the State are living here posing as ordinary workers. However, the Kerala Police are investigating the situation in coordination with other agencies,” Punnoose said.
Kerala Forest Minister KB Ganesh Kumar had recently said that vigil in forests had been stepped up following Intelligence reports on possibility of ultra-left activists sneaking into the State. According to reports, Maoists from the Red Corridor are frequenting the jungles along Kerala’s border with Tamil Nadu, especially in Idukki and Palakkad districts.
There were reports earlier that Maoists from the Red Corridor had been visiting Kerala posing as construction and granite quarry workers for acquiring weapons and explosives. This suspicion had intensified after the arrest of Maoist leader Mallaraja Reddy from Angamaly near Kochi in 2008.
It was also reported that several LTTE-men had infiltrated into the forests in Idukki district after the Sri Lankan’s Defence forces’ successful offensive against the Tamil tigers in the north and east of the island nation. These former Tigers had been getting local help from Tamil settlers in the Idukki plantations, it was said.
Kerala Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose on Wednesday said that there were Intelligence reports about the possible presence of Maoist extremists in the forests of Kerala. He, however, said that the police were unsure whether the extremists were indulging in any kind of activities.
“There is the suspicion that extremist elements having links with Maoists are present in the Kerala forests. Maoists from states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha have reportedly entered Kerala forests thinking that the State is a safe haven for them from the police forces in their states,” he said in Alappuzha.
“We don’t have any evidence to conclude that they are indulging in extremist activities here. It is believed that these people from outside the State are living here posing as ordinary workers. However, the Kerala Police are investigating the situation in coordination with other agencies,” Punnoose said.
Kerala Forest Minister KB Ganesh Kumar had recently said that vigil in forests had been stepped up following Intelligence reports on possibility of ultra-left activists sneaking into the State. According to reports, Maoists from the Red Corridor are frequenting the jungles along Kerala’s border with Tamil Nadu, especially in Idukki and Palakkad districts.
There were reports earlier that Maoists from the Red Corridor had been visiting Kerala posing as construction and granite quarry workers for acquiring weapons and explosives. This suspicion had intensified after the arrest of Maoist leader Mallaraja Reddy from Angamaly near Kochi in 2008.
It was also reported that several LTTE-men had infiltrated into the forests in Idukki district after the Sri Lankan’s Defence forces’ successful offensive against the Tamil tigers in the north and east of the island nation. These former Tigers had been getting local help from Tamil settlers in the Idukki plantations, it was said.
