Beltangady: Naxal Movement in Region Gaining Strength?
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (RD)
Beltangady, Mar 13: The situation of Naxals remains the same, without much progress being made into the recent encounter with the police. Senior police officers claim that combing is still under way.
The constable of the Anti Naxal Force (ANF) who was injured in shooting encounter with Naxals near Kukkady Urdyaru waterfalls in Malavantige gram panchayat near Kolli is recovering.
ANF and district police engaged in combing operations foiled the Naxals’ aggressive plan on Saturday March 10.
For the first time in the history of Beltangady police station, the armed forces recovered a huge haul of armaments and ammunition - nearly half-a-truck-payload that had to be minutely recorded. The process is expected to take at least three days.
Why the police failed to capture Naxals
“The policemen found themselves on the ridges of the forest while the Naxals who were moving on top of the hill could easily monitor the movement of patrolling forces. The footprints of policemen on dry leaves clearly gave signs of direction. The Naxals appointed sentries to keep a close watch on police forces,” says Dakshina Kannada SP Abhishek Goel.
When this reporter queried whether a combat had taken place between Naxals and armed forces, Goel replied that all the information will be revealed at an appropriate time. The operation is under way to trace the hideouts of Naxals, he added.
“The Naxals had pitched tents at 14 places and the items left behind by the Naxals have been recovered and the process of recording is in progress,” said ASP Anuchet.
The police personnel recovered FM radios that were left behind in a hurry in various locations in the jungle. It is believed that the Naxals were spying on communications between the forces over walkie-talkies. The Naxals were using solar chargers to power their mobile handsets. Literature in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and Telugu were found in various locations. A local newspaper that carried a report on arresting a supporter of Naxals was also found, besides a map of Beltangady taluk.
Rumors Galore about Naxals
The rumor about a Naxal woman being slain in an encounter with police forces is doing the rounds in the neighbouring villages. The police ruled out rumors that Naxals had robbed the mobile handsets of a group of villages when they ventured into a stream to fish on Saturday March 10. The police clarified that they have not interrogated any of the villagers in this regard.
Is Vittal, a Student of Mangalore University, a Naxal Informer?
Vittal was arrested by the police on charges of acting as an informer to Naxals. The intelligence department informed the district police that Naxals who are arriving from Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh are likely to cause destructive activities in the backdrop of the forthcoming Udupi–Chikmagalur Lok Sabha by poll. Police believe that Vittal has been involved in Naxal activites in his village as he knew the location where Naxals pitched their tents a few kilometers from his household. A newspaper that carried the report of Vittal’s arrest by the police force was also found in a Naxal camp, which was a prime news for them to plan their offensive. Police sources informed that if Vittal was not arrested, he would have become a leader of the Naxal movement in the near future.
Locals Assisted Naxals?
A map of Beltangady taluk was recovered from a Naxal tent and one wonders if it was meant for Naxals who arrive here with little knowledge of the region. The inhabited areas lie on the edges of the forest that is not so dense, but denser when one ventures a few kilometers into the dense jungle. A few locals guided the Naxals to retreat to the high hills on the Western Ghats to find safe heaven to recoup and plan a counter offensive, it is learnt.
Naxals of Different Cadres and States Planning Meeting?
The police believe that Naxals belonging to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka have planned a meet, for training in armaments and planting explosives. The Naxals are believed to be armed with hand grenades and other sophisticated devices to lay booby-traps in order to blow up patrol vehicles carrying armed police. The swift operation by the police force has foiled Naxals attempt in this regard. ANF, with policemen drawn from Chikmagalur, Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada districts are involved in this operation.
The state intelligence informed LTTE’s links with the Naxal movement in the state. Literature in Tamil and a pendant with the picture of slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran, was found in the jungle and strengthens the claim by the police of LTTE links with Naxals. The speculations are rife whether the Naxals from neighbouring states have arrived to strengthen their movement that was weakened in the state. The police investigations will clear the doubts in this regard.