From poachers to Maoists. The Sathyamangalam forests that played host to notorious brigand and sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has outlaws of a different colour making it the centre of operations.
An Intelligence report to which Deccan Chronicle was given access has warned the southern states of the 'activation' of a Maoist South Western Regional Bureau (SWRB) at the 'trijunction' of the three southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala despite the strict enforcement and deployment of police and special forces in the rest of India.
“The Maoists are trying to establish a Red corridor between the Eastern and the Western Ghats,” said an official source.
Bengaluru-born leader of the proscribed left wing extremist group — Ramesh, 50 alias Kuppuswamy of the CPI (Maoist) is reportedly trying to activate the SWRB comprising the three states, in the former brigand Veerappan’s territory that spans Denkenkottai in Tamil Nadu to Anchetty in Kerala.
The Maoists are using Veerappan’s territory for recruitment and training of fresh cadres.
"Veerappan territory is around 18,000 sq km across three states. The Maoists are gradually gaining ground in these areas including Gopinatham in Chamrajnagar — the border district in Karnataka and Sathyamangalam forest in the Karnataka - Tamil Nadu border because of several reasons including the dense forest cover and a largely tribal population's resentment against atrocities committed by the special task force, constituted to nab Veerappan," said the officer.
Kuppuswamy took over as the chief of the SWRB after Cherkuri Rajkumar alias Azad - the second in command in the central core committee of the CPI (Maoist) - was killed in a controversial police encounter in Adilabad in July 2010.
Naxal leader B.G. Krishnamurthy, active in Shringeri and Agumbe has stepped down on health grounds after his wife, cadre leader Hosgadde Prabha fell seriously ill.
"Contrary to reports of her death, Prabha is undergoing treatment in Kerala. She has been replaced by Mudagar Latha in Karnataka," the officer said.