Coimbatore: School, polytechnic and even college students from tribal villages now seem to be emerging as bridge-builders between the Coimbatore district police and the tribal population in remote hilly pockets vulnerable to Maoists infiltration, in a new strategy to contain the ultras.
It is more than catching them young. The police have taken this initiative for the betterment of tribal-police relationship in hill areas in the Western Ghats close to Coimbatore to prevent Maoist influence on tribals.
According to a police source, around 37 school students, eight ITI students, ten graduates, all belonging to 17 tribal villages were taken on a one-day tour programme to create awareness on these issues.
The students were selected from the tribal areas of Thudiyaloor, Jambukandi, Chinna Jambukandi, Dhoomanoor, Annaikatti, Thuvaipathi, Vadakaloor, Cudloor, Kondanoor, Arnathakad, Kalkadu, Kundoor, Kurandi, Mel kuravankadi, Kandi and Gundoor. They were also taken to Karamadi and Thudiyaloor police stations, where the functioning of a police station and procedures of duty were explained to them. The noon session was an industry visit when the students were taken to a private factory in Periyanaickenpalayam.
At the end of the tour, students were told about how Maoists in tribal areas search for youth to lure them to join their group. Police also demanded that students act as informers for them.
