Tamil Nadu Timeline 2015

Date

Incidents

January 12

There are no signs of CPI-Maoist activity in any part of 'The Nilgiris', however, vigil has been stepped up on account of the presence of Maoists across the border in Kerala, said ADG, Law and Order, TK Rajendran at Pandhalur near Gudalur.

The UMHA has moved a Cabinet note seeking approval for its new counter- LWE doctrine, which envisages inclusion of additional districts on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka junction under the SRE and seeks control of the IAP scheme hitherto administered by the Planning Commission. The new counter-LWE plan proposes upgrading of SRE scheme to cover at least half a dozen new districts located in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka axis, besides pitching for autonomy to the UMHA to make changes to the list of SRE items (this now requires Cabinet approval). This comes amid concerns over growing CPI-Maoist influence in south India, particularly in certain Districts in North Kerala.

The NSD, which consists of two teams in Coimbatore and the Nilgiris Districts, has been successful in building cordial relationship with people in tribal villages and hamlets bordering Kerala. Inspector General of Police (West Zone) K. Shankar said that the teams have met the primary target of building ties with the villagers. The teams are operational from February 1 following the attacks on a forest office and a few other places at Palakkad District, Kerala, in December 2014. The dedicated teams were formed in addition to the combing operations Stating that there is no Naxal movement in this part of the State, Shankar added that the Police have also targeted recruitment of 75 Home Guards in bordering hamlets in Ooty and around 30 in similar areas in Coimbatore District, by the end of March.

CPI-Maoist perpetrated violence has declined in the country from 1,000 killings during 2008, 2009 and 2010 to about 300-odd now, K. Vijay Kumar, Special Security Adviser, the UMHA, said in VIT University in Vellore. "This is a sign that two-third violence has come down. But that does not mean that they (Maoists) are incapable of causing hiccups and giving surprises," he said. He further said there were two to three Maoist-affected States that were being concentrated upon. "Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand contribute about 30 per cent each that is two-third in the country. The Governments are trying to tighten efforts here," he pointed out.

The SIB of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Police, the 'Q' Branch Criminal Investigation Department of the Tamil Nadu Police arrested five CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Roopesh alias Jogi, his wife Shyna, Anoop, Eswaran and Kannan, at Karumathampatti in Coimbatore District. Roopesh headed the recently formed Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee, Police sources said. "It is a big catch. Roopesh was leading Maoist operations in the tri-junction (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala) and involved in the attacks on forest establishments in Kerala and also on some MNC retail outlets. His wife Shyna was working as clerk in the Kerala High Court and later joined the Maoists," a Police official said.

The Internal Security Investigation Team probing four cases against Roopesh, suspected to be a member of PLGA, and wife Shyna approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate court in Coimbatore for recording the arrest of the accused. Since Roopesh, Shyna and three others were sent to the custody of Tamil Nadu Q Branch for 10 days, the arrest could not be recorded.

According to the Tamil Nadu Police, Roopesh and his wife Shyna have confessed during initial interrogation that the Maoist leadership had entrusted them with the responsibility of organising social uprisings. Roopesh, along with another person called Jogi also had organisational responsibilities in the State. The Police had earlier found that Roopesh was behind recent attacks by the group at various places in the State.

In a related development, unidentified persons who came on two motorcycles to the 'Q' Branch CID office in Peelamedu in Coimbatore allegedly warned Police personnel of action against the Inspector who arrested the Maoist leaders. While speeding away, they raised slogans in support of the Maoist movement. Following the incident, an armed Police guard was posted at the office, Police sources added.

In what came as a shocker to security agencies, wanted CPI-Maoist leader and his wife who were arrested near Coimbatore had lived in a house in Tirupur since August 2012. Posing as being involved in IT business and export of disposable cups, the couple managed to stay there for over two years without anybody suspecting their activities. Police searched the house on May 7 and seized hundreds of books, CDs and electronic gadgets, Police sources said. Based on a specific input by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Police, the 'Q' Branch CID arrested Roopesh, leader of the Western Ghats Special Zonal Committee, his wife Shyna and three others. Enquiries revealed that Roopesh posed as an exporter, while his wife claimed to be involved in medical transcription and software development, the sources said.

In the wake of the arrest of five Maoists from Coimbatore District a few days back, the Tamil Nadu Government has issued instructions to strengthen anti-Naxalite special divisions in the Erode, Coimbatore and Nilgiris Districts. Police sources said that each division had a sub-inspector and seven constables. Their main role is to gather intelligence regarding movement of Naxalites in the forest areas.

State and Central Intelligence Agencies in Tamil Nadu feel that CPI-Maoist activists are getting regrouped with active help of some social activists, NGOs, human rights activists and journalists. "We are surprised and shocked at the over-enthusiasm shown by some of the journalists to portray that there is no Maoist activities in Tamil Nadu. We know for sure that Leftist extremists are active in the State and they are trying to bring all Dalit youths under their flag. The last two years saw many arms training programmes held by Maoists and their frontal organisations to some sections of the society," a senior intelligence officer said.

The Madras High Court directed the Coimbatore 'Q' Branch Police not to seek further custody of the five suspected CPI-Maoist cadres, who were arrested in Coimbatore on May 5. Stating that most of the custody period is over, Justice MM Sundresh directed the 'Q' branch Police not to file any application seeking Police custody of the five arrested.

In an attempt to thwart CPI-Maoist incursion in under developed tribal settlements across Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu Q branch Police have identified and forwarded a list of 71 tribal villages to the District administration, seeking their immediate intervention. The Police have asked the revenue and other related departments to speed up the implementation of Government schemes mainly pertaining to basic amenities like issuing ration cards, health and rural connectivity. The 71 settlements identified are scattered in five Taluks including Valparai with high tribal populations. According to sources, the 71 settlements are coming under Valparai, Pollachi, Mettupalayam, Perur and Coimbatore North.

The judicial custody of five CPI-Maoist cadres, including Roopesh, his wife Shyna and their accomplices C. Kannan, J. Anoop and C. Veeramani, was extended till July 2 by First Additional District Judge R. Sakthivel in Coimbatore District.

A letter stating that bombs would explode in 10 places in Coimbatore during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2015 has been received by Ramanathapuram Police Station in Coimbatore District. The threat letter was purportedly written by one Rajesh, who claimed to be a CPI-Maoist sympathiser.

A fresh alert issued by the Tamil Nadu Q Branch Police to districts bordering Kerala has stated that there was increasing movement of CPI-Maoist cadres in the tribal villages in Wayanad and Palakkad Districts of Kerala. According to Police sources, in the alert issued this week, the Q branch Police have claimed at least two sightings of Maoists in the last week of June in two different tribal villages in Wayanad and Palakkad Districts.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as R Shyna (42), J Anup (31), C Veeramani alias Easwaran (60) and C Kannan (46), arrested recently by the Q Branch Police of Tamil Nadu have refused to sign and confirm that documents seized by the Police during raids belonged to them. This happened when they were produced before Principal District Judge R. Pongiappan in Coimbatore, at the end of their Police custody.

CPI-Maoist leader Roopesh was produced before a Court in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu and Principal District Judge R. Pongaliappan remanded him in judicial custody till July 22.

The Q branch of Tamil Nadu Police is planning to slap NSA on the five 'Maoists' arrested on May 4, 2015 in Coimbatore District.

CPI-Maoist leader Roopesh, his wife Shyna and three other cadres who were arrested by the 'Q' Branch Police at an eatery in Karumathampatty on the outskirts of Coimbatore in Coimbatore District were detained under the NSA.

Madras High Court Bench in Madurai dismissed bail applications filed by N. Ranjit alias Sekar (30) and J. Vivek alias Vivekanandhan alias Raja (45), both arrested in 2010 and 2012 on charges of involvement in armed struggle under the banner of CPI-Maoist.

CPI-Maoist leader Roopesh continued the fast in Coimbatore District that he commenced in Kerala.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, alleged to have escaped in an encounter with Police in Kodaikanal hills in 2008, was arrested at Vadamadurai in Dindigul District. According to Police sources, A. Neelamegam alias Kathir alias Vinayak (30) was arrested by the Q Branch Police following a tip off that he was visiting a friend in Vadamadurai.

Arrested CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Roopesh, Shyna, Anoop and Veeramani, who were on a fast inside the Coimbatore Central Prison, gave it up after writers and civil society activists assured to take up their case, said their lawyer S. Balamurugan.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced creation of special cells at a cost of INR 94.8 million in 10 border Districts to prevent Naxalite activities. "The cells will be set up at Tiruvallur, Vellore, Erode, Udagamandalam, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Virudunagar, Tiruvelveli and Kanyakumari districts," she said, while replying to the demands for grants for Home Department.

Principal District and Sessions Court Judge R. Poornima dismissed the bail plea of a CPI-Maoist cadre Neelamegham alias Kadhir alias Vinayakam (29). Opposing the bail petition, Police claimed that granting of bail to Neelamegham would hamper their investigation.

Six months after five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Karumathampatti in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, the Q branch Police submitted a 4,700-page chargesheet at a court in Coimbatore. The Maoists Roopesh, his wife Shyna, and his accomplices Anoop Mathew George, Kannan and Veeramani were arrested from a bakery at Karumathampatti.

Three suspected CPI-Maoist cadres - Ranjith, Kannan and Neelamegam - were produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul District. Judicial Magistrate C.B. Vedagiri extended their judicial custody till November 18.