With the appearance of suspected Maoists in the Western Ghat limits of Kodagu district, the ANF and police personnel started combing operations on Tuesday.
Three armed men had visited the 'line houses' belonging to Ballachanda Muthanna at Naladi near Napoklu, in Madikeri taluk, on Monday evening. They collected rice, chilly powder and salt from Pemmaiah. They also ate meat curry and rice and charged their mobile phones before disappearing into the forest at 10 pm.
Locals said that the visitors claimed to be Maoists and threatened them not to inform anyone.
Under the guidance of SP P Rajendra Prasad and DySP P Sundar Raj, the police and ANF personnel carried out combing operations in Naladi, Tadiyandamol Betta and Napoklu.
According to sources, as the ANF had intensified combing operations in Sullia, Sampaje and Subrahmanya ahead of the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah, the armed Maoists would have visited Kodagu region.
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