Villagers wary of suspected Maoist presence

Mustafa of Kottaykkakath explaining the experience of his daughter, whoreportedly came across two suspected Maoists at her house on Wednesday.

Recurring incidents of suspected Maoist presence in two villages in Thondarnadu grama panchayat in Wayanad district have destroyed the tranquil life of the villagers, including the tribespeople.

A visit by two unidentified persons on Wednesday night to a house at Korome was the latest in a series of such incidents. It was reported that the two men, one in black dhoti and black shirt and the other with a shawl across his face, visited the house of Mustafa of Kottaykkakath around 8.30 p.m. The house is located about 4 km from the Kunhome forests, where an encounter between the Thunderbolt and a group of armed militants was reported on Sunday evening.

In search of food

Mr. Mustafa told mediapersons that his minor daughter was alone at home when the duo visited the house.

The other members of the family were watching television at a relative’s house nearby. The duo reached the house in search of food. They told the girl that three members of the group were waiting outside and that they had no intention of harming anybody. The girl cried for help when they asked for old clothes after having food.

By the time, the relatives reached the house, the intruders managed to escape under the cover of darkness, Mr. Mustafa said.

Later, the Vellamunda police visited the house and the girl identified one person from a police lookout notice as Maoist leader Velmurugan. Police fingerprint experts collected evidence.

Veluchi, an aged tribeswoman of the Kunhome Paniya tribal colony, said an unidentified woman had reached her hut around 11 p.m. on Tuesday seeking provisions such as rice, tea dust, and sugar. Ms. Veluchi provided rice and sugar to the woman and she left along with a man who was waiting outside the hut.

A similar incident was reported on Monday in the area. However, police sources said that though the villagers had informed them about the incidents, the police were yet to register any case in connection with it owing to dearth of solid evidence.