CHAMARAJANAGAR: Chamarajanagar district, once the fiefdom of sandalwood brigand Veerappan, is now hounded by reports of suspected Naxal movement in Bandipur forest. The reports gained credence after a villager residing on the fringes of the forest was picked up by the police and enhanced combing operations were reported in the border areas.
Eshwar, the villager who was picked up for questioning, is believed to have told police that he encountered unknown people carrying arms and ammunition and that the men speaking Hindi and Tamil sought to know the whereabouts of a politician and few others.
Although police received no other information of any suspicious movement in the forest from other villagers or forest officials, they have not taken the matter lightly, said police sources.
Police officers also clarified that no pamphlets, posters or wall graffiti that is a trademark of Naxal activity could be traced in Wayanad region of Kerala.Sources said that the Anti Naxal Force and two teams of district police have begun combing Karnataka-Tamil Nadu borders and the region bordering Wayanad.
They are also looking at the possibility of Tamil extremists, who were active during Veerappan regime, resurfacing again in the region.When contacted Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Kumar Meena said that the information and descriptions given by the villager did not match with modus operandi of Naxals.
Denying Naxal activities or movement in Chamarajanagar district, he said that they have started combing operations as a precautionary measure. Vigilance in border check posts and within the districts as also intelligence gathering have been stepped up.
Meena also held meetings with forest officials in Bandipur and strengthened the co-ordination between the departments.
Although, police have dismissed possibility of Naxal activities in Bandipur, there is fear that such rumours and intensified combing operations may hit tourist activity.