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Tamil Nadu Timeline 2016

Date

Incidents

January 21

The Madras HC in Tamil Nadu granted interim bail to five CPI-Maoist cadres, top Maoist leader Roopesh, head of WGZC of CPI-Maoist, and four others, including his wife Shyna, who were arrested near Karumathampatti in Coimbatore in May 4, 2015, by the Q branch Police with a condition to appear before the Investigating Officer every day for a month.

An inter-State meeting of senior forest personnel in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala held at Bandipura in Karnataka, held after an interval of three years, decided to intensify joint operations to tackle the CPI-Maoist activities in the forest areas of the region, Pramod G. Krishnan, Chief Conservator of Forest, (Wildlife, Palakkad), said. The meet offered all assistance to Police Forces in combing operations to tackle Maoist menace. As part of this, anti-poaching activities information would be exchanged each other.

February 1

A suspected CPI-Maoist, Ranjith, was produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul District. Judicial Magistrate C.B. Vedagiri adjourned the case till February 15. Police claimed that the accused was in Kodaikanal with Naveen Prasad, who was gunned down in an encounter with the Police, and was engaged in weapon training. The Police had brought Ranjith from Tiruchi prison.

February 13

The Coimbatore Rural Police registered three cases against CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Roopesh, his wife Shyna and Anoop Mathew George for using copies of voter Identity Cards of three people to obtain SIM cards from multiple shops in Pollachi and surrounding areas.

February 22

In a late night operation, a team of the Tamil Nadu's `Q' branch Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre at Sriperumbudur in Kanchipuram District. The 32-year-old man whom Police identified as Surendra Yadav, confessed that he was involved in a couple of cases of murder and bomb blasts in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The Chattisgarh Police had alerted their Tamil Nadu counterparts about Yadav, who was wanted in several cases.

April 1

About a dozen armed CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women cadres, reportedly stormed a village along the Western Ghats close to the Kerala border in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, and addressed a gathering of about 150 tribals. The Maoists came to the Nedukal Kambai village in the Kolakombai Police Station limits around 9 p.m. and asked the villagers to gather at a common place, a couple of them began addressing the gathering, while others took positions to guard. Making an appeal to the villagers to join the CPI-Maoist, they released a manifesto promising to restore land, water and forest rights to the people. During the hour-long meeting, the Maoists distributed pamphlets and pasted posters in the village. Calling for strengthening the 'PLGA' to establish "people's rule", the Maoists urged the tribals, Dalits, students, women and educated youth to join the armed struggle. Vowing to render justice to the Munnar tea estate workers, they appealed to the people to reject the elections which were the path of corrupt politicians and drive away the STF from the forest area.

June 13 Two women CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before Bhadrachalam ASP R. Bhaskaran in Khammam District.
June 15

CPI-Maoist 'state committee member' Gajjala Krishna Reddy (58) surrendered before IGP, South Zone, N. Sridhar Rao in Kurnool District. Reddy, who also operated under the names of Gopal Reddy and Ramana Reddy, carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head. Reddy, who is suffering from cancer, said he was disillusioned with the Central Committee's lack of commitment to the philosophy and ideology, ill-health, and not being given due importance in the party.

IGP, South Zone, Rayalaseema Range, N. Sridhar Rao declared that the Nallamalla forests are Naxal-free. The Police controlled LWE with an iron hand and there was no extremist activity or any CPI-Maoist recruitment in Nallamalla forests in the last one decade, he asserted at a media conference at Kurnool. He also ruled out any chances of revival of the Maoist movement in the region.

June 17

CPI-Maoist 'central committee' has given a call for celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Naxalbari armed uprising, centenary of the Russian revolution and the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx. In a 10-page statement, the 'general secretary' of the CPI-Maoist, Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi, said that all the party units should make "preparations, put maximum efforts and issue calls to the vast masses to actively and energetically participate in these celebrations". He called upon his party cadre to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Naxalbari uprising from May 23 to 29, 2017, the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution from November 7 to 13, 2017 and Karl Marx birth bicentenary from May 5 to 11, 2018. If, for any reason, it was not feasible to conduct these events on the above mentioned dates, Ganapathi said, they could be organised in other time of the years of the anniversaries. "It is to be expected that the enemy will try to create all kinds of hurdles everywhere to prevent us from organising these anniversaries, be it in the urban or rural areas. We should be prepared for this and make realistic and practicable plans to conduct these programmes successfully in spite of disruptionist efforts", the statement said. The Maoist party also said that efforts should be made to organise at least one international programme in any of the Indian cities on a date agreeable to all participants. As part of these celebrations, the party has also sought publication of books, booklets and collection of articles for enhancing the understanding of Marxism.

July 21

Three alleged CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by the Q branch Police of Tamil Nadu from Karur and Kancheepuram Districts. They were identified as Reena Joyce Mary (32), Kala alias Janaki (53) and Chandra (52). Sources said a Police team traced Reena who was found working in a textile factory at Padapai on July 21 evening. Based on the information given by her, another Police team traced Kala and Chandra living in a rented house at Vengamedu in Karur District. Reena was a suspect in a 2008 encounter between the Police and the Maoists at Kodaikanal. She was also one of the Maoists arrested in an operation at Uthangarai in 2002. One of them swallowed a piece of paper on seeing the Police, onlookers said adding she also shouted pro-Maoist slogans.

August 8

Coimbatore District Police and intelligence agencies published the photos of 12 persons, including a woman, in a notice stating that they are CPI-Maoist cadres on the notice boards of Police Stations and check posts in Coimbatore District, bordering Kerala. The persons whose images were published in the list are Velmurugan, Yogeshmathan, Murthy, Palanivel, Karthik alias Kannan alias Gopi, Kalidass, Dasarathan, Sathiya Mary alias Padma, Manivasagam alias Mani and two others. This has taken place only days after Kerala Police released the images of 35 Maoists. However, a senior District Police officer said that they are on the lookout for these accused for more than two years.

Suspected Maoist Mahalingam (63), who was arrested in Tiruchur District of Kerala last month, was produced before Andipatti Magistrate Court in Theni District of Tamil Nadu, in connection with the case registered for arms training on Varushandu hill in the District.

August 24

There has been no movement of CPI-Maoist cadres in Erode District but special Police teams are scouring forest areas as a precautionary measure, a senior Police official said. "There is no movement of Maoists or Naxals in Erode District. But as a precautionary measure a special team of police personnel are going round Burgur, Sathyamangalam and other forest arras in the district", said SP Dr R. Sivakumar.

August 28

After being in Police custody for two days, Reena Joyce Mary, a suspected CPI-Maoist cadre, was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul District. The court adjourned the case till September 9. Amid tight security, Reena was produced before the court in the morning and later taken back to Vellore prison. Dindigul Police had taken her under custody for two days to investigate her involvement in arms training in Kodaikanal in 2008 along with Naveen Prasad, who was killed in an encounter during search operation near Moolayar at Vadakaunji on April 19, 2008. Q-Branch police had arrested Reena in Padappai in Kanchipuram District on July 21.

September 7

Reena Joyce Mary, a suspected CPI-Maoist cadre, was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul District. After hearing, the court adjourned the case to September 21. Later, she was taken back to Vellore prison. The Q Branch Police had arrested Reena in Padappai in Kanchipuram District. Earlier, the Dindigul Police produced her before the court on August 26 and sought its permission to take her under its custody. They took her under its custody for two days to probe her involvement in arms training in Kodaikanal in 2008 along with Naveen Prasad, who was gunned down in an encounter during search operation in 2008.

October 1

The 'Q' branch Police arrested a suspected CPI-Maoist cadre from Pallikoduthanur in Mettur town in Salem District. S. Palanivelu (36) allegedly has a case sheet against him and was also involved in a murder case. According to sources, on a tip-off, the 'Q' branch Police had been watching the movement of Palanivelu for the last three months. A special operation arrested him at a park in Mettur town on October 1 evening. Pamphlets and other Maoist literature meant for distribution to the public were allegedly seized from him.

October 7

Two suspected women CPI-Maoist cadres, who were arrested in Karur District in July, 2016, were produced before a Judicial Magistrate court in Karur District, for remand extension. The duo, Kala (53) and Chandra (51), lodged in the Special Prison for Women in Tiruchi were taken to the Karur court amid Police escort. The Judicial Magistrate Court-I extended their remand till November 4. They were later brought back to the prison, Police sources said.

October 9

The SFs of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu decided to launch a joint operation, following specific intelligence information that CPI-Maoist had increasingly been using the forest tri-junction of the southern states as a safe haven. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held in Kochi in Ernakulam District of Kerala, in the wake of the arrest of suspected ISIS sympathisers in Kerala and the surging Maoist infiltration into South Indian States. Earlier, intelligence agencies had received information about a secret meet of the Maoists held in Wayanad on September 14, which was attended by a Maoist 'central committee' member who was reportedly hiding in the tri-junction area. At the high-level meeting, a specific strategy was laid out detailing the role of the security formations of each State, and modalities were worked out for preventing Maoists from hiding in the border Districts of Kerala and Karnataka, besides Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. "We received information from reliable sources that Maoists advancing North Indian states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were using the tri-junction area as hideout. The infiltrating extremists include senior Maoist leaders who control regional operations. A joint action is needed, considering the possibility of Maoists crossing the border and escaping to another State when the police force of a particular state launches crackdown," a senior officer said. However, CRPF DG, K Durga Prasad said that ever since SFs intensified their crackdown, threat from LWEs had come down in the Southern States.

October 22

A huge flex board displaying images of 32 suspected CPI-Maoist cadres and seeking the cooperation of public in arresting them, has been erected by Police and Forest Department, at a check post on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu Border. The board was put up in the wake of reports of infiltration of suspected Maoists, who held a secret meeting in a village in Kerala, near the Tamil Nadu Border last month, they said. Police and Forest Department officials put up the board to enable the public to identify the Maoists, who include a few women, and to pass on information they might have, they added.

November 22

The NSD teams from Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts have been asked to stop CPI-Maoist infiltration in Western Tamil Nadu. The state internal security officials told the team leaders that Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Police encountered 30 CPI-Maoist cadres in October 24-27 in AOB region. The DIG (Internal Security), C Eswaramoorthy, told that CPI-Maoist members should not enter Tamil Nadu forest areas and we should not allow them to create their base in the State. He also advised the NSD teams to create good rapport with the tribals in Western Tamil Nadu so that they could pass on information about suspicious movements in forest areas.

November 28

The Coimbatore City Police arrested two the CPI-Maoist sympathisers for sticking posters in Ukkadam area in Coimbatore District. They were later released on bail. The men, identified as Parthiban and Dinesh, were picked up by the Police and were booked under the Tamil Nadu Open Places Prevention of Disfigurement Act. They had stuck posters supporting the Maoist movement and against the anti-Maoists actions of the Police department. The two men, who are members of the SAMSW, had already been booked in other cases including a case registered in Pollachi in connection with a missing man joining the Maoist movement. In the posters, the men had elaborated on the atrocities by the Police. They demanded that special Police units be dismantled and not allowed to function as, in the name of encounters, they were murdering innocent people who were fighting for their rights. The posters stated that the two men were against state repression. There were contact numbers on the posters. Police officials said the men had not applied for permission to stick the posters.

December 9

The CPI-Maoist lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison will observe a day-long fast on December 16. They will be fasting to condemn the recent encounter killing of two Maoist leaders inside the forest in Nilambur in Malappuram District of Kerala. The protest is also to demand that the Kerala Government register a murder case against 'Thunderbolt', the anti-Maoist squad of the Kerala Police, and also to seek a magisterial probe. Sources said the Maoists lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison - Shyna, Roopesh, Veeramani, Kannan and Anoop - will take part in the protest. Suspected Maoists lodged in the prisons in Tiruchi, Chennai, Vellore, Palayamkottai observed a fast.

December 16

Three of five CPI-Maoist cadres lodged in the Central Jail in Coimbatore District, observed a day-long fast to condemn the 'encounter' killing of two CPI-Maoist leaders near Nilambur in Kerala. The three inmates, Roopesh, Anoop and Veeramani refused to take breakfast and lunch to protest the killings, which they termed as a "planned encounter," jail sources said. However, two others, Shyna, wife of Roopesh and Kannan, who were arrested 18 months ago from Karumathampatti on the outskirts, did not participate in the hunger strike, they said.

December 18

The Police Department, earlier this week, reached out to the residents of Kulithuraipatti and Nandhipuram in Bhavani Sagar limits of Erode District. The Police also handed over benefits as part of its efforts to protect them from influence of Naxalites. SP, R. Sivakumar and other senior officials interacted with the residents and gave an assurance to liaise with the District Administration on their behalf for provision of basic amenities. The officials urged the residents to pass on information about suspicious looking persons immediately to the Police.


Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 
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