Police and Anti-naxal Force (ANF) personnel launched combing operations in the forest area near Lakkinakoppa in the taluk on Monday, following news that four suspected naxals were sighted there.

According to eye-witnesses, the suspected naxals held rifles and handycams with them and were sighted at a farm near the old church in the village. When village residents questioned them, they fled.

As the news spread by afternoon, ANF personnel from Agumbe and the police rushed to the spot and searched for the naxals. But their efforts went in vain.

Speaking to DH, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Ashok Khare said, "following the information given by village residents, police searched for naxals in the forest. But we concluded that they were not naxals."