Wayanad (Kerala): Search operation is on to track down the suspected Maoists who had escaped following the Police - Maoist encounter at Banasura mountains, in Wayanad district of Kerala. Velmurugan, a suspected Maoist, was killed in the encounter as the police’s elite commando team members opened fire at him, on Tuesday morning.
The police suspect that the Maoists who had escaped from the scene are still hiding in the forests of Wayanad. Strict regulations still prevail in the zone where the encounter happened on Tuesday.
Kappikkalam and Pandippoyil in Padinjarathra Panchayath in Wayanad have been earlier identified to have Maoist presence. These areas are part of the newly formed Banasura Dalam of the Maoists. Even the local residents in these areas are being thoroughly checked by the Police at the entry points.
Six months ago, the Maoists had fetched rice and other food supplies from a house in Pandippoyil Ambedkar Tribal colony here. After this incident, Kerala ThunderBolt, the elite Commando force formed to counter possible terror attacks and for counter-insurgency in the State, have been patrolling these areas regularly.
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There is only one and a half kilometre distance from this tribal colony to the place where the encounter happened.
The suspected Maoist Velmurugan, who died in the encounter, is said to be a main leader of the Banasura Dalam. Besides Banasura Dalam, the Maoists have Kabani Dalam and Nadukani Dalam in the district.
Kabani Dalam includes Thirunelli and Thalappuzha regions. Nadukani Dalam constitutes of the forests areas near Meppadi, along the Wayanad and Malappuram district borders.
Police surveillance and search operations have been beefed up in these regions also after the encounter on Tuesday.
