Mysuru: A red alert has been sounded across the Kerala-Karnataka border near H.D. Kote in Mysuru district as a gang of four armed Maoists are reportedly waiting to slip into the State forests to escape the Kerala police crackdown.
A 20-man commando unit from Mysuru has been deployed and began a two-day combing operation on Wednesday, along with local police. The security at Bavali check-post on the border has been beefed up and the police are conducting an area domination exercise in forests adjoining Bavali, D.B. Kuppe, Machur, Kadegadde and other tribal settlements to curtail any attempts by Maoists to take refuge in State forests.
The situation is the fallout of a Maoist attack on a private tourist resort in Thirunelli, which is 30 kms away from Bavali check-post in Karnataka. The gang reportedly ransacked the resort’s property and left behind leaflets asking people to join the 10th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the CPI (Maoist). This has forced the Kerala government to go on the offensive.
Kerala’s special Thunderbolt commandos are sweeping the forests of Wayanad, which may prompt the Maoists to eye Karnataka’s forests. IGP (Southern Range) B.K. Singh told the Deccan Chronicle that it was only a precautionary measure. “I can’t reveal the details of the operation, but we are doing everything to protect our territory from any kind of infiltration.”
However, a police officer of inspector’s rank in H.D. Kote taluk confirmed the combing operation and said the Karnataka and Kerala police are sharing intelligence.
For the first time, Mysore district was in danger of becoming part of the Red Corridor in March 2013.
The South Western Regional Bureau of the Naxal movement had reportedly tried to extend its activity to Mysuru. There were reports of Naxals visiting Kalur village in Kodagu in October, 2012.
