The Devadhanapatti police on Monday night seized a car bearing Kerala registration number in which nine bullets were found. Three persons in the car, aged around 30, escaped into the forest near the Dum Dum Rock.
According to police, the car, proceeding to Kodaikanal from Kerala, was intercepted during a routine vehicle-check at the Kodaikanal ghat road check-post near Batlagundu. On seeing the police team, the occupants jumped out of the vehicle and escaped into the reserve forest. . Police found nine bullets inside the car but no weapon.
Two anti-naxal teams have started combing operation in the lower Kodaikanal hill. A special team has also proceeded to Kerala for investigation.
Police suspect that those who fled might be members of Maoist organisations.
In 2004, the STF gunned down a Maoist, Naveen Prasad, on the Upper Kodaikanal hill. Weapons and hand grenades were unearthed at Murugan Malai near Periyakulam a few years ago.
