For a long time, Kodaikanal has been the most preferred choice for the youth attracted by the Maoist ideology.

The arrest of a Maoist, identified as Neelamegam alias Vinayak alias Kathir (30), near Vadamadurai in Dindigul district two days ago has put the spotlight once again on Kodaikanal hills.

For a long time, Kodaikanal has been the most preferred choice for the youth attracted by the Maoist ideology. The jungles here have not only been a good hideout, but have also enabled them to avoid the police scanner.

According to highly placed sources in the intelligence agencies, though some outfits are legally banned in the State, they continued to function underground and re-group as and when situations demanded.

The “encounter” in April 2008 in Kodaikanal hills is a case in point. When the Special Task Force (STF) was about to arrest a suspect, there was an exchange of fire. After a long battle, a well trained expert in handling arms, Naveen Prasad (27) was killed in Vadakavunji, near Kodaikanal. At that time, a few of his accomplices escaped.

After almost seven years in June, one of them identified as Kannan alias Senthil alias Kumar (46) was held in Coimbatore. Suspected to be well trained in weaponry, Kumar's arrest was described as a “big catch”.

Close on the heels, the arrest of Neelamegam in Vadamadurai has raised eyebrows about the government’s claims that there were no Maoist activities in the State.

According to reliable sources in the State and Central intelligence agencies, the southern districts, particularly Madurai has been a preferred choice since 1980s for those who operated under the banner of the Tamil nationalist movements.

An officer, who was then closely associated with the investigation into the blast case in the TV tower in Kodaikanal which claimed one life, said a Tamil nationalist Polilan figured as A-1 along with two Sri Lankan militants.

The Dindigul District Sessions Court heard the case.

Similarly, in the robbery case involving Bank of Madura (now ICICI Bank) in Madurai in late 80s also suggested the alleged role of Tamil nationalist and some of the Sri Lankan Tamils behind the crime. In fact, the then Madurai Mayor Muthu’s son too figured as one of the accused, police said.

While police agencies say that there was no space for extremists and the State was free from such elements, the encounter death in Kodaikanal hills in 2008 only proved that they had “regrouped” and determined to strike vital installations.

According to the intelligence officials, Neelamegam, a Dalit and a native of Madurai Viratipathu, has a number of friends living in different names in Dindigul and Theni districts.

He was married to a woman from Karnataka, also a Maoist, who was arrested a few years ago.

The number of bruises and injuries on Neelamegam suggested that he was living in the forests, sources say, adding that sustained combing operation could lead to the arrests of his accomplices. All that he has repeatedly told the police is that they will continue to fight for the downtrodden.