Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (MS)
Sullia, Mar 19: It has been confirmed that four individuals believed to be naxals visited Koojimale Estate near Subramanya, falling under the jurisdiction of the Madikeri police station, on the border of Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts on Saturday evening.
The Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) from Karkala initiated a search operation starting Monday. The group of four, comprising two men and two women, visited a grocery shop owned by Ramalingam near Koojimale Estate, purchasing 25 kilograms of rice, pulses, sugar, lentils, and bakery products, and paying Rs 3500 to the shop owner.
According to the shop owner, the group introduced themselves as forest department personnel, wearing uniforms resembling those of forest department staff and carrying rifles. After purchasing the groceries, they proceeded towards the forest department office.
Although the incident occurred on Saturday evening, it was initially believed that the individuals visiting the shop were indeed forest department staff. However, when a forest department representative visited the shop on Sunday evening to purchase groceries, the shop owner mentioned the previous day's encounter. This raised suspicion, leading to the matter being reported to higher officials. Police visited Koojimale on Sunday night itself.
As per the shop owner, the four individuals claimed that four of their colleagues were in the forest room. They conversed in Kannada with the shop owner and in Malayalam with a Hindi-speaking staff member of the Koojimale Estate. No one other than those who visited the shop saw the alleged four individuals, leaving uncertainty about whether there were eight Naxals or just four.
A team of 60 personnel from the Karkala ANF arrived at Koojimale for a combing operation. Drones were also utilized by the ANF team to search for the Naxals in Koojimale, Kadamakallu, and Uppukala areas.
The sighting of Naxals on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections has raised concerns among the locals. Naxals were also sighted in the Sampajegudde area during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
It is suspected that the group visiting Koojimale might be led by Vikram Gowda. It has been confirmed that Jisha and Latha were among the four individuals who purchased groceries from the shop. Though the identity of the other two men is not confirmed, it is suspected that they may be Santhosh and Vikram Gowda.
Karkala ANF deputy superintendent of police Raghavendra, Kodagu superintendent of police Ramarajan, Madikeri circle inspector Umesh Uppalike, Subramanya sub-inspector Kartik, ANF officials, police personnel, CID officials, and personnel visited Koojimale and gathered vital information.