The Anti-Maoist combing operation which was being conducted by a team of the Thunderbolt Commando Force of the state police in Kannavam forest and nearby areas in the district, was stopped without yielding any results. The massive operation was launched after reports of ‘Maoists’ sightings at Vilangad Vayad Tribal Colony in Naripetta grama panchayat in the district on Friday evening.
The operations were conducted with the assistance of local police and forest officials. “The operation was launched on Saturday morning and continued till 4 pm ,” said a senior police official. He also added that it is highly likely that the ultras might have escaped into dense Kannavam Reserve Forests. Earlier it had been reported that an armed group which included women, had visited the Adivasi colony and distributed pamphlets to the residents on Friday. Police officials said that two of them were suspected to be absconding Keralites involved with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
According to the police, members of the banned outfit, dressed in black uniform and carrying guns, visited the colony and interacted with the locals in Hindi and Malayalam.