This Article is From May 02, 2012

Maoist presence likely in Kerala forests: Police

Thiruvananthpuram: Kerala Police has received intelligence reports of possible presence of extremist elements having links with ultra-left outfits like Maoists in the state's forests.

"It is suspected that extremist elements are present in the forests in Kerala. There could be groups having links with Maoists from states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha in state's forests", Director General of Police (DGP), Jacob Punnose, told reporters.

He, however, said that there was no evidence to show that they were directly engaged in any extremist activity.

State Forest Minister KB Ganesh Kumar had recently said that vigil in forests had been stepped up following intelligence reports on possibility of ultra-left activists sneaking into the state.

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