The Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed “serious concern” over attempts of some Maoists to carve out a base for themselves in the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
In a recent report on Left Wing Extremism, the MHA said though the CPI (Maoist) had not achieved much success in its attempts to establish a stronghold in the tri-junction due to a well-coordinated action plan of security agencies, the efforts “to open a new theatre in south India is a cause for serious concern.”
Pointing out that the Maoists were undertaking organisational restructuring to consolidate their position, the report said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation and sensitising the State governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to keep a check on the their activities.
Spike in violence
In Andhra Pradesh, a neighbouring State, the report said Maoist violence had gone up by 94 per cent in 2015-16 as a result of bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam.
“There has been active support to people’s movement against mining in Niyamgiri Hills (Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha) and agency area of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh. The CPI (Maoist) has been extending direct support to local tribals against the construction of Polavaram Dam in West Godavari district…”
After a lull, Maoist activities in Tamil Nadu came to the fore following the arrest of Roopesh, leader of the ‘Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee’, his wife Shyna and three other cadres near Coimbatore based on a tip-off given by the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh police in May 2015.
The arrest was seen as a blow to the attempts of the Maoists to strengthen their presence in the tri-junction.
In the last two years, Maoists were sighted on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border along the Western Ghats, forcing the Special Task Force (STF) of the State police to open new camps at vulnerable areas.
Centre monitoring situation; three southern States maintain vigil in the tri-junction
