Kannur: A gunbattle took place between Kerala Police's commando wing Thunderbolts and militants of banned outfit, CPI(Maoist) in the forest at Uruppumkutty near Ayyankunnu in Irritty in Kannur district on Monday.
The exchange of fire was reported within the limits of the Karikkottakari Police Station around 9.30 am. Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) DIG, Putta Vimaladitya said the group comprised about eight Maoists who had set up two tents in the forest.
The police claimed they were fired upon by the Maoist gang during a jungle patrol. The commandos returned fire and the battle lasted over two hours.
DIG Vimaladitya could notconfirm if the militants sustained injuries in battle. “So far, we don’t have any evidence that any of the Maoists suffered injuries. The police have been searching for the armed-gang since the morning and we suspect they escaped into the dense forest.”
Meanwhile, the Karikkottakari Police have registered a case under sections of UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act). A team led by ATS DIG and SP, Kannur Rural, Hemalatha M, is monitoring the locality where the firings took place.
On October 30, a three-member Maoist gang had fired at three forest watchers at Chavachi in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary near Irritty. The watchers were on their way to the camp shed at Ambalapara from the Narikkavu Forest Station when they were fired upon.
Maoists have been spotted in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas in the past few months, the police said. The militants also visited houses in the region to source grocereis and pasted propaganda material on the walls.
In June this year, five suspected Maoists raised slogans and walked the streets of Edappuzha, a commercial centre in the hill panchayat of Ayyankunnu. They also distributed hand-written pamphlets to the people.
Police recovered two such pamphlets from the region said, 'enlightenment is a fundamental right' and 'organise against those who deny light'. The posters were signed by the Kabani Dalam of CPI(Maoist). According to reports, the Maoists bought groceries and food items from two shops in Edappuzha and returned to the forest in Karnataka.
Last week, two Maoists were arrested from Wayanad following an exchange of fire with the Thunderbolts.