Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jul 31: Naxals, who were lying low since being active for a brief period long time back, have announced their resurgence in the taluk by hanging banners in the name of CPI (Maoist).

Four banners were found to have been hung to the poles supporting the bus shelter located near Poonjaje school in Mala village located at the foot of Western Ghats. The locals noticed these banners on Saturday July 30 morning.

One among these four banners has made mention about Martyrs' Day. Naxals observe Matyrs' week from July 28 to August 3 every year. It has become common for them to prove their presence during this period every year. Knowing this, Anti Naxal Force (ANF) remains active during this period.

Since the last some years, barring isolated incidents, naxals had not undertaken any major initiatives. Therefore, it was widely believed that their numbers have steeply dwindled. The banners prominently give the message that forest and environment are anytime bigger than any government and that the people should come together to defeat proposed Tiger Project, implementation of Kasturirangan report and other proposed projects in Kudremukh National Park and other forest areas. The banners also speak about observing Martyrs' Day.

Reports said that a six-member gang comprising four men and two women, has been visiting houses in Mala and Nooralbettu areas seeking support for their organization since the last some days. Locals believe that some of the members were from outside the state, going by the fact that they were speaking some other language too. But none of the locals have come out with complete details of their encounter with naxals. Some say the people suspected them to be naxals only after seeing the banners. However, the gang is not to be seen since a couple of days, it is learnt.

Both the police and ANF have not been giving any information about finding these banners and the resultant follow up action. After those who saw the banner conveyed this information to them, officials of the department rushed to the spot. A case was registered in the rural police station here. It is said that a combing operation has been launched in the forests to find out whether naxals are camping in the area.