The State police will strengthen their vigil against Maoist groups in the forests, particularly in Nilambur region. Inspector General of Police, Thrissur zone, S. Gopinath, after closed-door discussions with senior forest and police officers at Nilambur on Friday, said that the police would enhance their vigil in view of the recent attack on forest officials by a gang suspected to be Maoists.
Mr. Gopinath said the presence of Maoists in the Nilambur forests was confirmed. An armed group suspected to be Maoists had fired at a team of forest officials in the T.K. Colony forest area near Pookkottumpadam on Thursday.
Mr. Gopinath said the attack was unusual, and therefore needed an intensive inquiry. He said the police move would be of a secret nature. The Police and the Forest Departments would jointly conduct searches in the woods. However, Mr. Gopinath said the police faced certain shortcomings such as lack of facilities for search by camping in the forest. He visited Poothottamkadavu, near Pookkottumpadam, where the alleged Maoists had fired at the forest team.
Apart from Mr. Gopinath, Superintendent of Police Manjunath H., Deputy Superintendent of Police K.P. Vijayakumar, Special Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police P.B. Babu, and circle inspector of Nilambur A.P. Chandran attended the meeting.
