KOZHIKODE: Even though the incidents of Maoist activities have been on the rise in the state in 2015, the intelligence wing has reviewed that the CPI Maoists could not make any influence in tribal belts in the state and conduct fresh recruitment in the last one year.
As per the police, nearly a dozen incidents involving CPI Maoists were reported in the state mainly in forest areas of Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad in 2015 but all these were carried out by cadres from the state who had joined the fold a couple of years ago.
“As per the assessment, the insurgents could not make much influence on the tribal community and carry out fresh recruitment though there have been attempts to recruit them. Except for a few Keralites, majority of the cadres belong to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” said senior officer in the intelligence wing.
Intelligence officers said as per the information, those Keralites who had already joined the insurgent group were desperate to leave the group but unable to do so as they fear threat to their lives. “It is evident from the statement of Ayyappan from Palakkad who escaped from Maoists that the core Maoist wing used to treat the recruits from Kerala shabbily and use them for carrying ration and other supplies,” the sources added.
Ayyappan was one among the three persons who managed to escape from Maoist group in November 2015.
A top police officer said that the department had apprised the government of the necessity of preventing tribal youths from falling trap to the nefarious designs of the Maoists and the state government had decided to roll out various programmes for the benefit of the tribal youth. The “hearts and minds” operation recently launched by Home Department was one of the major initiatives aimed at preventing tribal youth of Wayanad, Palakkad, and Malappuram from joining the insurgent group. It will be a special drive to recruit tribal youth and women into the state police through Public Service Commission.
Maoist Activities Reported in 2015
December 18
A group of suspected CPI-Maoist cadres attacked forest outposts in Pookottumpadam under Nilambur south forest division in Malapuram District and Silent Valley outpost in Palakkad forest area.
December 4
A six-member armed group, including two women, reportedly visited the workers of the estate owned by Kerala Forest Development Corporation at Kambamala and distributed pamphlets to them. They were in military style uniform and five of them carried guns. Two persons introduced themselves as Anu and Hari and interacted with workers in Malayalam.
November 29
Police and a five-member CPI-Maoist group had an exchange of fire deep inside the forests bordering Mannarkkad in Palakkad.
November 9
Two camp sheds of the Forest Department in Silent Valley National Park were found destroyed by CPI-Maoists.
October 27
A group of armed persons, suspected to be CPI-Maoist cadres, allegedly distributed leaflets calling to boycott the local body elections at a Government Orphanage School at Thirunelli in Wayanad.
October 17
A five-member gang suspected to be Maoists fired at a police team in Attappady, Palakkad.
July 6
Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres dressed in military attire visited the Ramachi colony under Kelakam Police Station limits
February 16
A private farm at Karimbu near Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode was attacked allegedly by CPI-Maoist- cadres. According to police, a five member-armed gang reportedly attacked a worker, Raju, of the farm.
January 29
The NHAI office in Kochi was vandalised by unidentified miscreants claiming to be affiliated to the CPI-Maoist. The attackers left pamphlets protesting against the acquisition of land for the National Highway expansion and privatization of public organisations.
January 25
A hotel owned by KTDC in Wayanad was attacked allegedly by CPI-Maoist cadres. January 2
Suspected Maoists attacked a private quarry-cum-crusher unit in Kannur district of Kerala. No one was injured in the attack at the unit located at Nedumpoil close to forest area.