Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Mar 31: The policemen have launched a manhunt for naxals after reports said that they were sighted near Agumbe. After getting the information that they had been camping in a forest next to Hulmadi and Mathod villages in Chikmagalur district, the policemen launched the search operation. It is learnt that a gang of naxals headed by B G Krishnamurthy had visited Mathod and Kabbinale villages recently.

Speaking elsewhere to reporters in Mangalore on Monday March 30, director general of police Ajai Kumar Singh assured that all steps will be taken to ensure that the naxal-infested villages in the Western Ghat region will have an incident-free poll.

"I have already held discussions at Karkala with the western range deputy inspector general of police, Karnataka State Reserve Police director general of police and the superintendents of the three districts of the region on Monday. As Udupi and Dakshina Kannada constituencies will go to polls in the second phase, it would not be difficult to deploy additional police forces here. If political leaders so wish, security for them will also be beefed up, he explained.