Maoist banners, pamphlets surface in Karna village

Pro-maoist banners and graffiti asking people to fight against Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats and protect the forest ranges appeared in a village in Udupi District of Karnataka, causing a flutter.
Police, who removed the banners, pamphlets and graffiti in Shedimane village in Kundapur yesterday, said the anti-government campaign was the handiwork of banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The slogans in the banners and pamphlets demanded that the Kasturirangan report be rejected outright and people should come together for the protection of Western Ghats and fight against plans and projects and also opposed Project Tiger, aimed at conserving the national animal.

Police said they suspected that the Maoists were trying to exploit the apprehensions among the local people about the adverse effect on their livelihood if the Kasturirangan report was implemented.
The report has outlined a conservation strategy for the Western Ghats.