Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 16: A gang of three suspected Naxals visited three houses in Mittamajalu village that are located on the edge of Addahole forest in Shiradi at around 6.30 pm on Sunday January 14. The gang demanded food and got their laptop and cellphone charged before returning to forests, it is said.

The houses which had visitors in the form of suspected Naxal operatives belong to Mohan, his sister, Leela, and younger brother brother, Suresh, all from Mittamajalu village. It is said that the gang of three had one woman member, and the gang members were in possession of guns. All the three were aged between 30 and 35 years, it is learnt.

The gang approached the houses and introduced themselves to be Naxals who live inside forests, and sought their cellphone and laptop to be charged. They also confessed that they were hungry and sought something to eat. The family had Dosa batter ready and therefore offered them Dosas. It is learn that they had Doas at the house of Leela before they visited Suresh's house.

Addahole forest

When they asked Suresh to get their mobile phone and laptop charged, Suresh said power supply was off. They remained there from 7 to 9.30 pm and had dinner at the house of Suresh before going away, it is said. It is also gathered that they collected items like rice, sugar, vegetables etc from the three houses before going back into forest in the night.

Initially, the information about sighting of Naxals was thought to be false as a fake news about Naxal visit to Hatyadka had spread in the region sometime back. Therefore, this information got publicity with delay.

The gang members, who spoke in Malayalam, Tamil and Tulu, told the families that other members of their gang were on the other side of the hillock.

The information did not come out till Monday evening. It is believed that the families did not take the issue seriously as the visitors paid for the items taken away by them and they had not troubled anyone there. They also might have thought them to be hunters, it is stated. After Uppinangady police got some clue about the Naxal visit on Monday evening, they went to Mittamajalu and made queries. On the basis of explanations given by the family members, the policemen concluded that they were Naxals.

Although the police department is assertive that the visitors were Naxals, a few police officers feel that the strangers seen at Addahole might be hunters visiting nearby forest. Moreoer, the visitors introduced themselves at Lata, Rajesh and Purushotham, and these names are not found in the list of Naxals maintained by the government. Therefore, a detailed investigation alone can conclude about the identity of the visitors, it is learnt.

District superintendent of police said that preliminary investigation has confirmed that three people with suspicious movements had visited houses near Addahole forest and taken away provisions from there. A case about the suspects carrying arms was registered in Uppinangady police station. The police said that search for Naxals would begin in the area from Tuesday, January 16 morning.