Armed-gang seeks tribal support to avenge deaths

MALAPPURAM: For the first time after the controversial encounter between police and Maoists in Karulayi forest on last Thursday in which two top extremist leaders were killed, an armed-gang of Maoists visited the tribal colony in the region and sought support from the tribespeople for giving a 'fitting reply with weapons' to those who killed their leaders.
Police have confirmed that seven armed-members of Western Ghats south zonal committee (WGSZC) of banned CPI(Maoist) including Vikram Gowda, Soman from Wayanad and a woman visited the Mannala Cholanaykka tribal colony on the banks of Karimpuzha river, which is around 5 kilometres away from the encounter spot on Monday night and they spent around 2 hours in the colony. It is learnt that the Maoists informed the residents of the colony that no one else were injured in the encounter. The gang returned to deep forest after collecting food materials from the adivasis
After the encounter, the police had clarified that several members of the gang who retreated into the forest were injured. The police had also said that Soman and Vikram Gowda were among those who escaped during the shoot-out. Two days ago a Maoist spokesperson who introduced himself as Akbar had contacted local media in Nilambur region. The police suspect that it was Malayali Maoist leader Soman himself.
Meanwhile, the police did not launch any search for the Maoists following the latest developments.