Suspecting Maoist movement, the special task force (STF) combed Sunday morning forests bordering Yercaud hills in Tamil Nadu and conducted door-to-door searches in nearby villages. The combing will continue the next few days.
Residents of Pattipaadi-velur, Panrikadu, Attur Ghat and surrounding areas, shocked to see the gun-wielding visitors, said they had never seen such activity and suspected cops were after someone.
“STF personnel asked us if we had noticed movement of strangers. They questioned several villagers and went door-to-door,” said Manikandan of Pattipaadivelur.
STF Mettur camp inspector Sasikumar, who headed the operation, however, said it was a routine search for intruders such as Maoists.
STF SP S.V. Karuppusamy said, “Once every few months, we conduct such operations in the hills. We have received no specific tip-off regarding movement of Maoists or other groups.”
A few months ago, STF and forest officials had conducted an extensive combing operation after villagers near Salem reportedly spotted four men with guns. After a thorough search, police dubbed the four local hunters. But this second search within a short span has raised fears of movement of anti-socials.
Following the killing of forest brigand Veerappan, who had made Western Ghats his home, poachers and extremists have been eyeing the forests. “If Veerappan could survive in the forests, these groups feel they too can,” said a source.