ANF intensifies combing operation in Palligadde

ANF intensifies combing operation in Palligadde

mangaloretoday.com

Subramanya, Sep 4, 2012 : The Anti Naxal Force (ANF) has intensified combing operation in Palligadde, Kulkunda, especially close to the houses, which were recently visited by Naxals. A group of 5 Naxals was spotted in this area on Sunday, at around 6:00 p.m.

There was firing between the ANF and the Naxals, in the course of which the Naxals threw some grenades at the ANF and fled into the forest. According to ANF IGP Alok Kumar, even the ANF threw some grenades at the Naxals.

Mr. Kumar also said that the ANF has formed 5 teams of 15 members each to comb the area, adding that the ANF had spotted three Naxals on Monday. Speaking about the firing, he said that the two groups exchanged as many as 60 rounds of fire, but none of the ANF officers were injured.

ANF Deputy Commander S. P. Vasudev Murthy led the combing operations and the ANF used SLRs and AK-47s in this operation.

According to Mr. Kumar, the Naxals live in tents in the forest, and each tent shelters around 8 Naxals. He also urged the public to inform the ANF if they come across Naxals anywhere. He said that the ANF will continuously comb the area in Kulkunda and one team will be stationed permanently in the area.

The state and central government intelligence departments, forest officials, and revenue departments visited Palligadde on Monday to inspect the area.

Meanwhile, the local people are terrified. They were already scared when the Naxals visited their houses, but the recent exchange of fire between the ANF and the Naxals has terrified them further. Five families in the village have already left the village and gone to live with their relatives in safer places. Some of them have even been admitted to the hospital.

The most affected of the lot are five brothers, who live with their families near Palligadde. Although they jointly own an acre and 15 cents of land, they are yet to get a record of tenancy and crops (RTC). One of the brothers Hiriyanna is a driver and the rest are daily wage workers, who do not have any other source of income. Three people in the family are already admitted to the hospital with stress-related disorders. Shivamma, their mother, had become unconscious, when the Naxals visited their house.

The wives of two of the brothers have gone to their relatives’ house. Since the Naxals have taken away their store of rice, they can neither cook food nor feed their cattle. They are too scared to work in their fields out of fear of being attacked by Naxals. The children are all in their grandparents’ place and are going to school in Subrahmanya.