Kozhikode: Police have beefed up security in the northern districts of Kerala in light of the 'women's wall' scheduled to be held on Tuesday from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. They are on the guard, particularly against likely threats to the human wall from Maoists and Hindutva outfits.
Though special force is on surveillance in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, districts like Malappuram and Wayanad, where Maoists are making their presence felt frequently, are also under watch, according to sources.
Malappuram district police chief Prateesh Kumar told Onmanorama that the recent posturing of the Maoists could be treated only as 'fear tactics' and the force is equipped enough to fight back and are vigilant.
“There is no threat as such for the women's wall. However, we are gearing up as their (Maoist) activities have increased recently. We have already started our combing operations in the deep forests and are looking for suspected people who have come to Kannur. They have been identified," Prateesh Kumar revealed.
"There is a change of leadership among Maoists at the national level as well as here. So, the present show of strength would be a new tactic, soon after the leadership change. However, we are not taking the signs lightly. The Thunderbolts and Anti-Naxal force have been engaged,” the police chief added.
Extremists flay campaign
On Sunday, posters surfaced in Edakkara, in Malappuram district, claiming to be from Maoists, criticising the wall. “The CPM is out with a new farce in the name of the women's wall. The wall, which lines up different Hindu communal organisations, is no wall of renaissance, but a communal one,” the leaflet says.
The criticism also appears in 'Kattuthee,' the bulletin published by the Kabani branch of the Maoist People's Liberation Guerilla Force. Another leaflet called 'Kanalpatha' lambasts the package offered by the government to Maoists who are willing to surrender. The posters and leaflets were pasted up at the bus stop at the Manchakod Junction, bordering the forest area. They were also pasted on notice boards installed by political parties. Some leaflets were found on parked buses on Sunday.
A day before, four Maoists, armed with guns, had staged a demonstration in Ambayathode in the Kottiyur panchayat of neighbouring Kannur district. There were 10 in the group, eyewitnesses said, and added that six of them had located themselves at various places nearby.
The group also distributed Maoist literature and pasted up posters. It was not clear as to where they came from, but they vanished into the Kottiyur wildlife reserve, which is hardly 50 metres away. The Maoists wore black costumes and headbands, and visited shops to distribute 'Kattuthee,' the bulletin of the Kabani chapter of Maoists. Local people said the group talked in Malayalam.
Kannur district police chief Shiva Vikram said the group has been identified as Maoists. “The anti-Naxal squad and Thunderbolt teams have already launched a search for them in the wildlife reserve,” he said.
Dry run
Meanwhile, ministers have been given charge of the wall in all districts and a rehearsal for the same would be conducted at 3.45 pm today. Women have been directed to arrive at the scheduled points by 3 pm itself. The Wall would be active from 4 pm to 4.15 pm.
State police chief Loknath Behera gave directions to district police chief in Palakkad (Debesh Kumar Behra), Kannur (G Siva Vikram) and Wayanad (R Karuppasswamy) to be vigilant about the Maoist presence. Kannur range IG Balram Kumar Upadhyay would review the activities.
Police chiefs in Kozhikode rural, Kannur and Kasargod have identified sensitive areas, where it is feared the Hindutva outfits could avenge protests against the recent Ayyappa Jyothi campaign carried out by them.
