Kasaragod: With two top Maoist leaders – Kuppu Devaraj aka Kuppuswamy (60) from Thelankana and Ajitha aka Kaveri (43) from Andhra Pradesh being gunned down by the Thunderbolt squad of the police (founded exclusively for countering the growing Maoist influence in the region) in the deep Nilambur forests in Malappuram district in Kerala on Thursday, the Intelligence reports now state that the Maoists are sharpening their knives to settle scores for the killings. The report states that there are all possibilities of the Maoists crossing into Kerala through deep jungles of Adur, Bedaga, Badiyadka, Rajapuram, Vellarikundu, Chimeni and Ambalathara Police Station limits. A handbill found in a rest room of a hotel has sparked fear of a possible naxal attack as the literature warns of Maoists striking back soon. The police are yet to confirm if the handbill has been pasted in response to the Nilambur killings.
In this background, the top brasses of the police department have directed the policemen to ensure that they do not go out on night patrolling individually. Instead, they have been told to patrol as a team comprising of Sub-Inspector and Assistant Sub Inspector. The top officials have specifically told the sub-ordinates to be adequately armed while going on patrolling. Security has been beefed up in sensitive pockets and districts like Kannur, Palghat, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Mallapuram have been put on alert.
The Nilamburu encounter has been handed over to the Crime Branch for probe and the Crime Branch has formed special team for the probe, on recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee.
Police said that Devaraj was a top leader of the outfit, wanted by four states and holding a bounty of Rs 37 lakhs for his head. The encounter took place at Karulai forests near Padukka forest station in Nilambur.
