Ajay Kanth By

KOZHIKODE: As Kerala heads for one of its most fiercely fought Assembly elections among three fronts — LDF, UDF and NDA — for the first time, the Kerala Police are busy devising strategies to counter any possible attempt by CPI (Maoist) to disrupt the election process.

Intelligence agencies have upped surveillance, speci­fically in tribal belts of Nilambur, and interior areas of Wayanad and Kannur after a latest Ministry of Home Affairs report warning that the CPI(Maoist) are trying to open a new region for military operations in the tri-junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

“The CPI (Maoist) is not only undertaking organisational restructuring to consolidate its position in the existing areas but also trying to carve out a base for themselves in the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Though the outfit has not achieved much success on this front due to implementation of a well-formulated action plan, its efforts to open a new theatre in South India is cause for serious concern. The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and sensitising the governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to keep a check on the activities of the CPI (Maoist),” said the latest MHA report for 2015-16.

According to DGP (Intelligence) A Hemachandran, Maoists have been trying to establish a southern operational centre in the dense forests of the area for the past three years but have not been able to accomplish it due to tight surveillance and lack of support from tribals.

“Their own internal reports reveal police and government machinery are not unpopular among tribals and this is one of the main reasons for their failure in setting up base,” Hemachandran said. The state intelligence has already apprised the MHA of activities of urban action team combatants led by Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee (WGSZC) of the CPI (Maoist) in the state. “There has been some action, though not serious. Between 2014 and 2015, 13 left wing extremism-related incidents of violence were recorded in the state,” a police officer said. The most significant among them was the attack on the Nitta Gelatin office in Kochi, which was carried out as part of a politico military campaign.

“Posters have started appearing in a few tribal colonies asking them to boycott the polls. We have taken precautionary measures, and adequate police force will be deployed to ensure law and order,” said ADGP (North) Nitin Agarwal. Intelligence officers say there were similar calls by Maoists to boycott the last local body and Lok Sabha polls, but the police were able to ensure peaceful elections.

Boycott Calls in Tribal Areas

“Posters have started appearing in a few tribal colonies asking them to boycott the polls. We have taken precautionary measures, and adequate police force will be deployed to ensure law and order,” said ADGP (North) Nitin Agarwal. Intelligence officer

No Takers for Ideology

According to DGP (Intel) A Hemachandran, Maoists have been trying to establish a southern operational centre in the dense forests of the area for the past three years but have not been able to accomplish it due to tight surveillance and lack of support from tribals