Kerala mulls setting up new action force to deal with Maoists

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Establishing a new action force to deal with the threat of Maoists, whose presence in the state's Western Ghat forest area has been noticed, is under the government's consideration, State Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told the Assembly today.

Intelligence reports suggested that the maoists have plans to indulge in violence during the death anniversaries of naxalite leader A Varghese and tribal leader Jogi which fall tomorrow, Radhakrishnan said to a submission moved by Benny Behanan (Cong).

The maoists, banned in the country, has been trying to expand its activities in the Western Ghat forest areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said.

In view of the threat, police force has been equipped to deal with the situation, he said, adding, he did not want to make the subject a public debate.

Behanan wanted to know from the government whether recent media reports about the increased presence of maoists in Kerala's northern belt were true or false.

Government should clarify its stand and also the steps taken to deal with the situation, he said.