KOZHIKODE:The exchange of fire between Maoists and special task force at Attapaddy, Palakkad, on Saturday is the result of the state-wide special operation launched by the Kerala Police to counter any possible designs of the insurgents to disrupt the local body polls.
According to senior police officers, there was specific information about movement of suspected Maoist elements at various parts of Wayanad, Kannur, Malappuram and Palakkad and a massive combing operation was initiated in these districts a couple of days back to counter it.
“The combing operation at Attapaddy was carried out based on a specific intelligence input and the shootout took place when the insurgents unexpectedly came infront of the combing team,” the officers said, adding that shadow police teams were already deployed in sensitive areas to check the movement of strangers. Intelligence ADGP A Hemachandran confirmed that the intelligence wing has been fully activated to keep track of suspected Maoist movements in the state. “We have been analysing their movement and have taken all necessary steps,” he said.
The police officers said Maoists have been keeping a low profile in the state since the arrest of its key leaders, including Roopesh and his wife Shina, in May this year and now they may be looking for an opportunity to make their presence felt in the state through covert operations.
The Kerala Police has been coordinating with their Tamil Nadu and Karnataka counterparts to check Maoist movement in border areas.