Coimbatore: Posters by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announcing `two lakh reward for information on two Maoist leaders including a woman, said to be on the move were found in tribal villages close to Mettupalayam in the Western Ghats near here.
According to a source, the Naxalite special division, Thunderbolt, STF, Q branch, district police along with the forest department has teamed up in combing operations on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka forest borders for Naxalites.
Following a tip-off from tribals, it was learnt that two armed people including a women Maoist were seen by tribals on the tri-state borders including the Coimbatore forest borders recently. Combing operation are being carried out today in Tamil Nadu forests bordering Kerala in areas like Sadivayal, Pichanoor, Mangarai, Annaikatti, Siruvani, Pilloor, Vepamarathoor, Velliyangiri forest, Madhukarai, Kozhinjampara, Wayanad, Malapuram and Tholampalayam, following reports that a group of AK 47-wielding Maoists will infiltrate into the state.
Armed guards have already been posted at strategic points like check posts. Special Task Force staff and the Naxalite special division are on the move in and around Kinnakkorai and Cherampadi in Nilgiris district, an official said.
Two Maoist leaders identified as Sundari, 33, from Thakchina in Karnataka and Jainnaiah, 40, from Raichur are being probed by the NIA. They are involved in many cases including opening fire on police and training Maoists in arms inside the forest.
