NIA takes over probe into police–Maoist encounter in Kannur forest
Last year, the NIA had also taken over a similar case relating to a November 8, 2023 encounter between police and Maoists at Thalappuzha in Wayanad.
Last year, the NIA had also taken over a similar case relating to a November 8, 2023 encounter between police and Maoists at Thalappuzha in Wayanad.
Last year, the NIA had also taken over a similar case relating to a November 8, 2023 encounter between police and Maoists at Thalappuzha in Wayanad.
Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the November 13, 2023 shootout between Maoists and police in the Uruppumkutti forest of Kannur district, sources said on Thursday.
The agency has filed a re-registered FIR before the NIA court in Kochi and is set to question several Maoist activists who have surrendered or been arrested in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, they said.
The encounter occurred when Thunderbolt, the Kerala Police’s anti-Maoist commando force, was on a combing operation at Njettithodu under Karikottakari police station limits. Eight armed CPI (Maoist) cadres allegedly opened fire on the police to obstruct official duty, the FIR stated.
The case has been booked under various provisions of the IPC, UAPA, Arms Act and Kerala Forest Act. No individual has been named as accused so far.
A month after the incident, CPI (Maoist) leader Jogi, spokesperson of the Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee, claimed that a cadre, Lakshmi alias Kavitha, had died of injuries sustained in the exchange of fire. Police later identified the group involved as the Kabani Dalam of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).
Last year, the NIA had also taken over a similar case relating to a November 8, 2023 encounter between police and Maoists at Thalappuzha in Wayanad. Several Maoists were arrested in that case. This is the sixth Maoist-related case in Kerala now being probed by the NIA, sources said.