Maoist alert in border forests

8216;8216;Initial reports on the behaviour and uniform of the armed persons point towards the suspicion of them being Maoist guerillas,8217;8217; said Vijay Raghav Pant, IGP, Kumoan Range.

The Uttaranchal police along with two companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary PAC and forest officials have launched a massive combing operation in the area. 8216;8216;We have started combing operations by police, PAC and forest officials from Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts,8217;8217; added Pant. The SSP of Udham Nagar district, Amit Sinha, is heading the operations.

The state police has also decided to set up temporary posts and increase patrolling in these forest areas.

Earlier, there were reports that Maoist guerillas of Nepal are using the forest area on the Indian side of the border as a safe haven to ward off pressure from the Royal Nepalese Army. Nepal had also handed over a list of 34 Maoists to the Uttaranchal police to check their possible hideouts in Pithoragarh and other areas.

Intelligence agencies and police have started a special drive in Pithoragarh, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar to identify people frequently crossing the border or having links in Nepal.