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Suspected Maoists fire at forest officials, none hurt

In perhaps the first instance of the use of firearms associated with Maoists in Kerala.

Kozhikode: In perhaps the first instance of the use of firearms associated with Maoists in Kerala, suspected left wing extremists opened fire at Forest officials at Poonthottak- adavu in the south division of Nilambur forest in Malappuram on Thursday evening.

Reserve Forest warden Chandran and beat officer Sasi, who were on the office premises, escaped unhurt. Divisional forest officer James Mathew said the attack was around 5 p.m. “near the camp office of the forest department close to the buffer zone of Silent Valley”.

Chandran was on his way back to the camp office after collecting food from nearby shops. He saw a figure hiding behind a tree near the office building and when he tried to confront him, the suspect opened fire. Beat officer Sasi, who was in the forest office, took cover after hearing shouts by Chandran.

According to James Mathew, three people were involved in the attack and two rounds were fired. A police team was headed for the spot, he said.

Malappuram police chief H. Manjunath confirmed the attack but declined to identify whether Maoists were behind it. “We cannot jump into any conclusion. The forest watchman was unable to recall whether the attacker wore a uniform, the hall mark of Maoist squads” he said.

A police team, led by a DySP, was headed for the spot, he said. Forest officials feel attackers were extremists. A local resident had also reported the presence of an armed gang in the area two days ago, they said. Police and Intelligence inputs have been warning about the presence of an armed gang in the Nilambur forest division in the past six months.

( Source : dc )
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