Subrahmanya: Armed Naxals spotted in Kadamakallu reserve forest; ANF begins combing

Subrahmanya: Armed Naxals spotted in Kadamakallu reserve forest; ANF begins combing

Mangalore Today News Network

Subrahmanya, Feb 23, 2014: Naxals are making news once again. This time they were spotted  at Kadamakallu reserve forest  on the borders of Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts. Meanwhile, the Anti Naxal Force has  initiated combing operations in the area.

 

According to reports, a team of forest  personnel  from Sullia and Subrahmanya  range, confronted a  group of six armed Naxals including two women  in the Western Ghat area on February 21, Friday. The forest personnel named Yuvaraj, Mahantesh and  Jagadish who had been on patrolling duty in the forest area were sitting on a stone to  drink water  when  their dog began to bark. Very soon six armed  persons including two  women  approached  them. When the forest staff questioned them, they  said “ You  mind  your business, while we will do our work.” It is learnt, the forest staff who were not armed, were helpless.

 The forest area coming under Madikeri district  is notorious for the illegal  precious stone collection racket and  forest staff are on night patrolling here regularly. Though a forest team which was at the Kadamakallu Suttatmale forest  the previous night, suspected the  presence of someone, it did not find anyone.

 Senior police officials including ANF personnel have rushed to the spot. Though forest staff  have confirmed that the strangers were Naxals there is a suspicion if some persons who were engaged in precious stone picking from the area had come in the guise of Naxals.

Here it is worth mentioning that Naxals were spotted in the Bisile and Subrahmanya  forest areas last year. A suspected Naxal named Ellappa was killed in an encounter in Bhagya  forest area while Naxals were  spotted at Mulleria in Kasargod last month.