Kodagu SP denies reports claiming Maoist team appearing in the district

Madikeri, Apr 26(UNI): The Kodgu District police have denied reports of a Maoist team appearing in Yavakapadi village in Napoklu police station limits on Thursday.

Kodagu Superintendent of Police Dr Suman D Pennekar said on Friday that the district police conducted combing operation following a tip-off from the local residents, but no Naxal movement has been traced.

Unconfirmed reports had been doing the rounds that two Naxlites had collected food items from two houses in Yavakapadi village and had snatched a mobile phone from a woman.

The rumour created panic in the villages located on the fringes of the forest. It was also suspected that the team of Maoists had shifted base to Kerala.

However, the photographs of the suspected Naxalites did not match with the identity of those who had snatched the mobile phone from the woman. The phone-snatchers had come in normal attire and did not had any weapon.

The mobile phone was found 80 km away from the house. The Anti-Naxal Force, however, continued to comb the forests, the SP added.