Security was strengthened along the Tamil Nadu – Kerala border in Coimbatore and The Nilgiris districts on Saturday afternoon, following reports of attacks by Maoists on police and counter attacks at Agali in Kerala.
“More than 600 police personnel have been deployed to check for Maoist intrusion,” Inspector-General of Police (IG) for West Zone K. Shankar told The Hindu .
Personnel from the Police Department, Armed Reserve force, Tamil Nadu Special Police force and home guards have been involved in intensive vehicle checking at check-posts and other roads connecting the two States. Combing operation is being carried out by five Naxal Special Division (NSD) teams — two in Coimbatore and three in The Nilgiris Districts — by the police and Forest Department personnel.
Focus is on strengthening security in villages and the border areas close to Thudiyalur and Pillur Dam police stations in Northern Coimbatore district and the Manjur police station in South Western part of The Nilgiris, which are close to Agali.
Mr. Shankar said that armed security at police stations in Tamil Nadu — close to Kerala — was stepped up since Maoists launched an attack on the Forest Department office in Palakkad in December last year.
Alert has been sounded at 35 police stations in Coimbatore district to prevent Maoist intrusion.
