Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Sep 18: An unattended strange blue tent found at Madibare reserved forest area at Dali near Kollur had caused panic among the local residents. The tent was first noticed by the locals, who in turn informed the same to forest department officials, who promptly filed a complaint with the Kollur police station.
The Kollur police passed on the information to senior officers and also to the DySP of Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) Ganesh M Hegde, who conducted combing operation with this team and also had discussion with locals and forest officials.
During the search, the police found cooking utensils, small box of vermillion, small plastic box containing sacred ash, chappal, aluminium vessel to make tea, umbrella, two packets of bun, white coloured dhoti and vest of white colour inside the temporary tent made of blue colour tarpaulin.
Some years ago naxal combing operation was going on at Devarabalu near here and one naxal was killed in an encounter. But after that there was no naxal activity in this area. However, the finding of this blue tent created panic among the locals of the probable presence of naxal in the area.
The police have made it clear that the blue tent has no connection with the naxals. The place where the tent is erected is very close to the local residential area, where there is always the movement of people to collect firewood, grass and also for their cattle to graze. In addition, this tent is erected in a place which is on the route for hikers to go to Arasinagundi Falls.
The police have clarified that this place is also the favourite of people who are spiritual-oriented as it is calm and serene. Many people from across the state as well as outstation come to this area for meditation. In addition, the size, shape and the way the tent is built does not resemble that which is generally found in naxal areas. So there is a possibility that some spiritual-oriented people might have visited the said area.
The police press release says that no naxal activities are noticed in Kollur area after 2008. But the police and ANF are still keeping strict vigil.