Masked men visit Cong worker's house in Bandipur forest

Naxal activities have been suspected in Bandipur National Park as a few masked people visited a lone house near the forest in the taluk on Friday.

A gang of three people, covering their faces with black cloth, visited the house of Congress worker Madesh at Karaggihundi village under Mangala Gram Panchayat limits when all the family members had been to attend a function.

The gang asked for the keys of the house from maid Shanti, who refused to give them. She asked the gang to come after the family members return. Madesh approached the police after Shanti informed him about the gang.

When contacted, Madesh said the gang spent almost 10 minutes near the house and warned Shanti not to share information about their visit with anyone. The gang seems to be that of house burglars as they did not carry weapons, said Madesh.

According to the local people, poachers from Tamil Nadu are active in the forest near the village. A few agriculture labourers from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also work in the region.

Deputy Superintendent of Police S E Gangadharaswamy said it is too early to declare the gang as Naxals. "We are conducting an investigation of all aspects," he said.

Sub inspector Shivarudra said no Naxals were active in the region till date. The PSI said the gang from Tamil Nadu may have visited the house as the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border is just 4 km from the house. "We have asked the family members to instal CCTV cameras in the house for keeping a vigil," said the PSI.

Senior police officers, the anti-Naxal force and the dog squad visited the house for inspection.