KUNDAPURA: Posters and banners put up by CPI (Maoists) overnight at Arasammakanu in Shedimane village of Kundapur taluk raised alarm among the villagers on Saturday. The posters called for withdrawal of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats and that Project Tiger should be stopped.
The posters were found pasted on the walls of the bus stand and some shops in Aarasammakanu town.
The posters stated that though the country got independence long ago, atrocities on women had not ended. Hence, people should unite in order to fight against the discrimination. The posters also opposed the government move to initiate ‘anti-people’ projects and asked the public to unite in order to protect the Western Ghats.
The posters said that because the government is entertaining foreign companies, the locals are being forcefully evicted from their places. Hence, the people should unite. Locals who spotted the Naxal posters, immediately informed the Amasebailu police station. Police rushed to the spot and removed the banners and posters.
Police said they suspected that the Maoists were trying to exploit the apprehensions among the local people about the adverse effect on their livelihood if the Kasturirangan report was implemented.
According to the locals, this was the first time that Naxal posters were found so close to the town. Naxals used to frequent one side of the highway in Shankaranaryana and Mada Makki, but this time, they crossed the highway to put up posters in this town, villagers pointed out.
It may be recalled that some activists had staged a protest against implementation of the Kasturirangan report in Kundapura recently. They had also blocked the state highway at Mandimurukai. The report outlines a conservation strategy for the Western Ghats.