Posters hailing slain Maoists appear in Thiruvananthapuram; cops alert

Thiruvananthapuram: The city police on Sunday launched a probe into the pro-Maoist wall posters that appeared in the heart of the capital city. The posters appeared on the walls at Spencer junction, a few hundred metres away from the Secretariat. One of the posters claims that those who worship Che Guevara and Fidel Castro have drowned comrade Kuppu Devaraj and Ajitha in a pool of blood.

It also alleges that the government has faked the encounter killings in Nilamboor forest. "The area is frequented by some artists and youngsters who use drugs. We hope it's their handiwork and are scanning CCTV footages to find them. In any case, since there is a pro-Maoist sentiment in the posters, we have heightened our vigil," City police commissioner G. Sparjan Kumar said. City police has been taking action against people for sympathizing with Maoist.

On Independence Day, this year, half-a-dozen activists affiliated to Njattuvela were held by the Cantonment Police. They were accused of distributing pamphlets and staging street plays to rope in people who came to attend the parade that day. "We have heightened vigil as Maoist activities are not limited to forest alone. They might be trying to expand their intellectual support base in capital," Mr Kumar said.