Wayanad: Ahead of the 23 April Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, posters and banners have been put up by Maoists asking farmers and plantation workers in Mundakkai to boycott the polls.
Mundakkai is a part of Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency and Congress President Rahul Gandhi is contesting from it. On 4 April, Rahul visited Wayanad to file his nomination and is said to visit the constituency again on 16 April.
R Karuppasamy, Wayanad District police chief, has reportedly said that security has been tightened in the area and additional paramilitary forces would be brought in. He further said that the officials are monitoring the situation and investigations are in the matter.
A letter had also been sent to the Wayanad Press Club regarding boycott of the polls, Karuppasamy said. Police have been on high alert in Wayanad since Maoist leader, C P Jaleel, was killed during an alleged exchange of fire with the police on 6 March this year. Wayanad being a high-profile constituency following Rahul Gandhi’s candidature, security has been tightened in the hilly district.