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Kerala Timeline 2014

Date

Incidents

January 5

Kannur Range, IG, Suresh Raj Purohit, who recently took over 'Thunderbolt', the anti-CPI-Maoist operations in the State, by the 'special commando force', said it was beyond any doubt that there was a meticulously woven Maoist network in the jungle zones of the State.

January 13

Police personnel at six Police Stations in Nilambur region of Malappuram District of Kerala are being exclusively trained to handle AK-47 rifles in a bid to tackle the CPI-Maoist threat in Police Stations along forest borders.

January 27

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said in Thiruvananthapuram that the State Government will deal with the CPI-Maoist threat strongly.

February 9

Evidence of CPI-Maoist presence in Kerala was established following the recovery of a pair of uniform allegedly being worn by CPI-Maoist cadres in Wayanad District.

February 13

In the backdrop of intelligence report regarding life threat to Kannur range (Kerala) Inspector General of Police (IGP) G. Suresh Rajpurohit, who oversees the anti-CPI-Maoist operations in the State, the Police have strengthened his security.

February 26

The UMHA Sushilkumar Shinde said in Kozhikode District of Kerala that incidents of CPI-Maoist perpetrated violence have come down in the country in the past one to two years.

March 8

Wayanad District Police chief Putta Vimaladitya issued a lookout circular against 10 suspected CPI-Maoist in connection with cases registered against them in various Police Stations in the District.

March 16

The Kerala Police procured four Polaris All-Terrain off-Road Vehicles against the backdrop of the decision to equip themselves with the state-of-the-art technology especially in the wake of the CPI-Maoist threat.

March 27

The Union Home Ministry has alerted the Kerala State Police about the possibility of the CPI-Maoist trying to create trouble during the Lok Sabha polls on April 10.

April 24

Police were put on high alert in Wayanad District after a four-member armed group, suspected to be CPI-Maoist cadres, threatened a Police officer and his mother at their house.

April 30

The CPI-Maoist and CPI-ML-Naxalbari have merged and the new party will retain the name of CPI-Maoist.

May 20

Six members of a gang allegedly belonging to former Naxal leader Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem, who is on the radar of Andhra Pradesh Police in connection with the murder of TRS leader K Ramulu, were arrested in Thiruvananthapuram.

May 23

The Kerala Police commandos will soon have an "assault dog unit" to aid their ongoing anti-CPI-Maoist operations in north Kerala.

June 9

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told the Assembly that there were reports of CPI-Maoist "presence" in six Districts of the State. Replying to questions in the House, he said the Government was in receipt of intelligence reports of Maoist "presence" in Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod Districts.

The Kochi Special Branch in Kerala is verifying the antecedents of two students from the Government Law College for alleged links with pro-Maoist outfits.

June 10

The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court summoned two persons who stood as sureties for the bail of Beecha Suguna, a suspected CPI-Maoist cadre, after she disappeared following her release on bail in February 2014.

June 16

Senior CPI-Maoist leader from Kerala Sinoj alias Rajan was killed in an accidental blast while making explosives in the deep forests of Wayanad District.

June 30

Presence of CPI-Maoist in the forest areas of certain parts of Kerala has been noticed since February 2013, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told the State Assembly.

July 6

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres held a meeting of Adavasi (tribal) families at Vaniyampuzha Adivasi Colony, Munderi, in the Nilambur forests in Malappuram District. About 60 Adivasis, including women, attended the meeting.

July 28

Kerala Police arrested a Swiss youth, identified as Jonathan Baud (24), after he addressed a meeting arranged by CPI-Maoist sympathisers at Valappad in Thrissur District to condole the death of their comrade Sinoj who was killed in accident while making country bombs on June 16, 2014 in a forest.

August 7

The Kerala High Court granted bail to Jonathan Baud, a 24-year-old Swiss national arrested by the State Police on July 28, 2014 on suspected CPI-Maoist links after he attended a meeting of Maoist sympathizers at Thriprayar in Thrissur District.

August 12

The Maoists are making efforts to strengthen its influence in South India, particularly on the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, said Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha. He further said Maoist's plans include creating a base on the border of Kerala and Karnataka.

August 21

According to reports prepared by a senior officer of the MHA the CPI-Maoist is trying hard to establish new bases on the border of Kerala and Karnataka.

September 9

The State intelligence has warned of the presence of CPI-Maoist cadres in tourist destinations in the state, including Alappuzha District of Kerala. Apart from the flourishing sex trade in houseboats, Maoists are also reportedly making use of the facilities for their nefarious activities, it is said.

September 22

The UMHA and the State-level Internal Security Investigation Team of Kerala have launched an inquiry into the source of a video of wanted CPI-Maoist leader Roopesh, alias Praveen, telecast on some Malayalam television channels. The video showed Roopesh in army attire with a Sten gun giving a monologue of waging an armed struggle against the government. A CD containing the video clipping, along with a press note, was initially delivered by a messenger to a Malayalam news channel at around 3 pm. Soon after the channel aired the video at 5 pm, copies of the same were put inside the press boxes of a few more channels at the Calicut Press Club at 5.45 pm.

September 23

Amid reports of CPI-Maoist calling for an armed struggle in Kerala, the State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said there was no need for any anxiety. He said, "Maoists have a presence in the state, but there is no need for anxiety on this". His statement comes in the wake of regional television channels airing video clips reportedly of CPI-Maoist leader, Roopesh, who threatened to launch an armed struggle in the State.

October 3

The Police have stepped up vigil in Attappady region in Mannarghat Taluk in Palakkad District of Kerala, following the appearance of flex boards allegedly installed by the CPI-Maoist to exhort the working class to prepare for an 'armed battle' against 'ruling elites'. While most of the flex boards were seen in Kallamala region of western Attappady, a few were installed at Poonchola and Pambbanthode villages close to Mannarkkad.

October 26

'Wall posters and notice in the name of the CPI-Maoist appeared at some locations under Vadakara Police Station limits in Kozhikode District of Kerala. The posters asked the people to join the CPI-Maoist for a new democratic-unexploited India by strengthening the 'class struggle'. Further, the posters requested the people to be united with the CPI-Maoist 'to defeat the imperialist government and its armed forces'. The posters asked the people to reclaim the rights for forest, water and land.

November 9

With posters of the Western Ghat committee of the CPI-Maoist appearing on various parts of Mavelikkara taluk, the state Police intensified its search operations in Alappuzha District of Kerala. The posters, as part of the 10th anniversary of the organisation, called on patrons to array behind the party and to defeat the armed forces sponsored by the rulers. The same posters appeared at Kurathikad area on November 8. Mavelikkara Circle Inspector Jose Mathew said that the Police have registered cases in connection with issue and are scouring the District for Maoist rebels.

November 10

A gang of nine suspected CPI-Maoist vandalized the corporate office of NGIL at the upmarket Panampilly Nagar in Kochi city in Ernakulum District of Kerala. In the attack, the suspected Maoists broke the glass panels of the building, desktop computers and a vehicle parked in the compound. The company estimated a loss of INR 4 million. Pro-Maoist pamphlets were found at the scene after the gang had left the scene. Witnesses said the gang raised pro-Maoist slogans. A letter-written in Malayalam-said there was a need for taking action against the "polluting" company. Pamphlets were distributed among the staff and a crowd that had gathered in front of the office.

November 11

Police registered a case under the UAPA against the nine-member of the CPI-Maoist that vandalised the corporate office of Nitta Gelatin at Panampilly Nagar in Kochi city in Ernakulum District of Kerala on November 10. City Police Commissioner KG James said that Police have not picked suspects for questioning and a case has been filed under UAPA against the nine-members. "This is the first time the city witnessing such an attack. Though we did get pamphlets that were allegedly dropped by Maoists on the spot, their role in this incident is yet to be confirmed. Our probe will not solely focus on Maoist outfits," he added.

November 13

The CPI-Maoist posters have been found near the new bus stand, railway station and Cherkalain area of Kasargod District of Kerala. One of the posters read "Maoism is not terrorism, but the way to liberate the oppressed. People have the right to take up arms for self-defence. Terminate 'Operation Green Hunt' immediately." They have been signed off by an organisation called Revolutionary Democratic Front.

Senior Security Adviser in the UMHA K Vijay Kumar while addressing a session on ''community policing and internal security'' organised by Janamaithri Suraksha Project of Kerala State Police in Thiruvananthapuram said coordinated efforts of the Centre and State Governments were imperative for tackling the Maoist issue. He termed the Maoist presence in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka tri-junction as 'under control.'' ''They are in the propaganda stage and we are stepping up counter-propaganda and preventive action,'' he added. He said there were no specific reports on insurgents' presence in urban areas.

November 14

The CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for having attacked the corporate office of NGIL in Kochi District of Kerala on November 10. A release issued in the name of the 'Western Ghats Zonal Committee' of the CPI-Maoist said the incident was a symbolic protest.

November 18

Suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked a private tourist resort in Thirunelli in Wayanad District of Kerala. The local Police said six persons barged into the Agraharam resort and broke the windowpanes of the resort's office building, staff quarters and reception centre.

November 20

A red alert has been sounded across the Kerala-Karnataka border near H.D. Kote in Mysore District as a gang of four armed CPI-Maoist cadres are reportedly waiting to slip into the State forests to escape the Kerala Police crackdown.

Fearing CPI-Maoist attack the Thrissur District Police have sounded an alert and intensified security at the Paliyekkara Toll Plaza on the National Highway 47 in Thrissur District of Kerala. Thrissur Rural SP N Vijayakumar said there has been intelligence report that CPI-Maoist cadres or its frontal organisations may target the toll plaza, as part of its 10th anniversary in Kerala.

November 23

Karnataka Home Minister K.J.?George while speaking to media persons in Mysore (Karnataka) said the Karnataka State will have another round of talks with neighbouring Kerala Government about the action taken in mitigating CPI-Maoist menace in Kerala.

November 26

The UMHA has expressed serious concern over a string of incidents involving the CPI-Maoist in Kerala recently. At least two incidents, the attack on Agraharam Resort at Tirunelly in Wayanad District on November 18, and at the Indo-Japanese joint venture Nitta Gelatin India Limited in Ernakulum District on November 10, have left officials puzzled.

November 30

The Kerala Police's Intelligence wing has received information suggesting the possibility of CPI-Maoist carrying out an attack soon in the Attappady tribal zone of Palakkad District. As per the report, the State Intelligence has submitted to the Government the Maoists are most likely to attack tourist resorts built allegedly on encroached Adivasi lands in the Attappady region. The report is said to have warned about the possibility of attacks also on Government offices, especially those of the Forest Department.

December 2

Kerala High Court quashed the FIR registered against Swiss national Jonathan Baud who was arrested alleging CPI-Maoist connection for attending a commemoration ceremony of Sinoj, a Maoist in Thrissur.

December 3

Kerala Home Department has decided to strengthen its initiative of reaching out to the tribal population, especially in northern districts.

December 7

Kerala Police Commandos exchanged fire with suspected CPI-Maoist cadres in a tribal forest settlement at Kunjootu Chappan colony under Vellamunda Police Station limits of Mananthavady taluk in Wayanad District.

December 8

Personnel of the Forest and Police Departments intensified combing operations in the Kunhome section of the forest under the North Wayanad Forest Division in Wayanad District in search of a militant group who reportedly exchanged fire with a platoon of Thunderbolt near Chappa forest tribal settlement under Vellamunda Police Station limit.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala while making a clarification in the State Assembly to the first reported instance of exchange of fire between the Maoists and the Police in Wayanad District said the State Police is capable of dealing with the Maoist violence.

In a bid to strengthen the anti-Maoist drives the Kerala, the State Police have posted two young IPS officers in the northern districts of Malappuram and Palakkad. The two IPS officers posted to counter the Maoist threat are Debesh Kumar Behera as Malappuram District Police chief and H. Manjunath as Palakkad District Police chief.

The Kerala State Government will employ the services of the CRPF for combing operations in the forest areas of north Kerala in the wake of the encounter between the Police and Maoists.

Activities of the CPI-Maoist in Kerala have increased manifold and the situation in the State has the potential of becoming more serious if immediate preventive measures are not taken, according to a note prepared by the UMHA. In the 17-page note, the Ministry said in recent times that the outfit is focusing on a southern theatre in the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The note further said the core of Maoist insurgency lies in 23 Districts of India which reported 80 per cent of the total violent incidents in 2013. The Districts are: Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Bijapur, Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma (Chhattisgarh) Chatra, Giridih, Gumla, Khunti, Latehar, Palamu, Simdega, West Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Koraput and Malkangiri (Odisha). The note added "However, the front organisations of the CPI (Maoist) exist in 21 states and carry out overground agitational activities in an attempt to enlarge the mass-base of the party and prepare the state for armed insurrection."

December 9

With the deployment of the CRPF in the forest area of north Kerala in the wake of an encounter between the Kerala Police and the CPI-Maoist in Wayanad District, security was tightened at all check-posts on the inter-State border in Theni District.

Jonathan Baud, the Swiss national arrested on charges of taking part in a meeting held at Thriprayar in Thrissur District on July 28, in remembrance of Sinoj, a CPI-Maoist leader, was acquitted by a Kodungallur court in the District. The court ordered the authorities to return his passport and others documents.

The Thunderbolts, the elite commando Force of the State Police, continue its combing operations against suspected Maoists in the forest areas of Wayanad District.

December 12

A 36-member search team including tribals and officials from forest and Police departments searched the border belt of Thrissur forest area in Thrissur District for alleged CPI-Maoist presence in the region, as part of routine patrolling. They could not retrieve any evidence.

December 13

Talking to reporters after a meeting of political party leaders, senior officials of various departments, and representatives of three-tier local bodies in Kalpetta of Wayanad District, Minister for Home and Vigilance Ramesh Chennithala said political parties in tribal areas, especial in remote forest tribal settlements, should take collective effort to prevent CPI-Maoists infiltration into the State.

December 14

A week after suspected Maoists exchanged fires with members of a Kerala Police commando force in Wayanad District, the Maoists have said that they would now target illegal money-lending rackets. In an article that appeared on 'Kaattuthee' (Wild fire), a mouthpiece news bulletin in Wayanad, the Maoists said Policemen were also aiding illegal moneylenders who have caught farmers, labourers and tribals in a web of debts and forced thousands to commit suicide in the District.

December 16

A high-level meeting of Police and forest officers of Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu and Kollam District was held at Thenmala of Kerala to discuss ways to check CPI-Maoist threat.

December 17

The Police went on high alert in Idukki District of Kerala after receiving information of sighting of suspicious persons in the forest areas near Maniyanpetty in Vandanmedu, bordering Tamil Nadu. A 15-member Police team have been rushed to the region to carry out combing operations after Kunju, a tribal man, alerted Police of seeing unfamiliar persons in the forest area, which is around three kms away from the Tamil Nadu border.

December 22

The CPI-Maoist cadres have launched three simultaneous attacks in Palakkad and Wayanad Districts.

A 15-member armed group barged into the forest range office at Mukkali near Silent Valley in Palakkad District and burned the files and damaged computers and furniture at around 1.30 am.

The forest aid post at Kunjom under Vellamunda Police Station in Wayanad District also came under attack in the morning of December 22. The attack came to the notice of the Police much later as no one was present at the aid post at that time. The Maoists left the copies of Kaattuthee (Wild Fire), the official bulletin of the Kabani dalam (armed squad) of them.

Another group of seven persons ransacked the outlets of the KFC and McDonalds at Chandragiri in Palakkad city in Palakkad District. Members of the group who covered their faces smashed the glass doors of the outlets and distributed leaflets urging the people to fight agents of US imperialism.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has affirmed that the violence that took place in Palakkad and Wayanad Districts was not perpetrated by the CPI-Maoist.

December 23

Two college students, identified as Sreekanth Prabhakaran, a B Ed student and Arun Balan, a journalism student, who were arrested on charges of attacking KFC outlet in Palakkad District on December 22, were remanded in judicial custody. They are members of a rural wing of the CPI-Maoist.

The two youths are also involved in the vandalism at Nitta Gelatin's office at Panampilly Nagar in Kochi of Kerala on October 22.

Police raided the office of 'Keraleeyam', a magazine that focusses on Human Rights and environmental issues, and took three persons into custody in Kerala.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala while speaking to reporters in Thrissur of Kerala said that there is no need for alarm over attacks in the State by suspected Maoists.

December 24

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala stuck to his assessment that the recent violent incidents in Wayanad and Palakkad Districts were nothing but the handiwork of miscreants posing as CPI-Maoist.

December 26

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Chittur in Palakkad District granted nine days Police custody for two suspected CPI-Maoist sympathisers arrested in connection with the attack on two multinational fast food joints on December 22.

December 31

Addressing a press meet, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that though CPI-Maoist presence had been identified in some pockets in the Western Ghats region of the State, they were yet to influence the public, including tribesmen, in the areas. But they were trying to influence the youths in cities and the two youths who were arrested in connection with an attack in Palakkad were the victims of it, Mr. Chennithala said.

The Police have invoked two more provisions of the UAPA against two youths arrested from a moving bus at Mankara, last week in connection with the alleged Maoist attacks on multinational fast food joints at Chandra Nagar.

Note:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 
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