Karnataka: Police open fire at ‘naxalites’ near Sringeri

Correspondent

CHIKMAGALUR: The police fired at a group of suspected naxalites camping in the forests near Nemmar, about 8 km from Sringeri, at about 1.15 p.m. on Friday. Acting on specific information, the police conducted the raid.

The group fled and there is speculation that some members of the group might have been injured in the firing.The police have recovered 50 rounds of ammunition, two grenades, gelatine sticks and handbills from two tents at the spot.

According to sources, the group, which included women, could have had six members as six pairs of footwear were left behind by the departing group.

Combing intensified

The police intensified combing operations in the area in the past few days as the naxalites had become more daring and visited the houses of two farmers in the area in the past fortnight.

They visited the house of Narasimhamurthy, a farmer at Hulgarbyle near Nemmar on Saturday.The police who were searching the area came upon the camp and opened fire. The group reportedly escaped down the embankment of a stream.

The Maoists had been keeping a low profile after the encounter at Mavinahalla near Horanadu about six months ago when two of their cadre and a police personnel were killed.

M.N. Nagaraj, Superintendent of Police, is camping at the spot