NEW DELHI: The banned CPI(Maoist) is eyeing fertile ground in at least three districts of northern Kerala – Malappuram , Palakkad and Wayanad. Exploiting popular sentiment against environmental pollution caused by mining and quarrying activity, exploitation of natural resources, alleged highhandedness and misdeeds of forest and police officials and displacement of tribals due to tourism projects and wildlife sanctuaries, the Maoists have announced their arrival in Kerala with recent actions including vandalisation of a forest outpost in Wayanad, MNC-owned fast food restaurants in Palakad and a tourist resort in Wayanad.

Recently, CPI(Maoist), through its mouthpiece, highlighted alleged miserable condition of tribals in Manjeri in Malappuram district and blamed it on the attitude of forest and tribal welfare departments. It claimed to have forced the state government to address problems of the affected people, including tribals. The extremist outfit has already formed an armed squad in Malappuram district.

A series of recent actions undertaken by Western Ghats special zonal committee of the CPI(Maoist) in Palakkad and Wayanad over the past few days have left the Central security establishment worried over Kerala being the latest entrant to the list of LWE-hit states. For instance, suspected Maoists vandalized a forest outpost in Wayanad and a forest range office in Palakkad on December 21 and 22. Another group targeted two fast food restaurants of multi-national companies in Palakkad on December 22. Pamphlets issued by the outfit were recovered from the attack site, giving the call for intensification of “class struggle” and asserting people’s right over land, water and forest resources.

Earlier on November 10, Maoist cadres belonging to “urban action team” damaged the office of an industrial unit in Kochi, alleging that it was polluting a local water resource. Another group vandalized a tourist resort in Wayanad on November 18.

Meanwhile, the government is discussing including Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts of Kerala among the 106 districts covered under the security-related expenditure reimbursement scheme.