THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Wayanad police are now using a rented helicopter to search the jungles of Kambamala to find the five-member Maoist gang who ambushed the officers and attacked the Wayanad Thalapuzha forest office.

The helicopter hired for VIP travel is conducting surveillance in the forest areas of Wayanad and Kannur and in the trijunction of the Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. A special task force comprising Thunderbolt commandos and armed police continues to search the forest. The jungle is also monitored by drones.

The police from neighbouring states are also lending a helping hand to track these assailants. The Special Operations Group is headed by DIG Putta Vimaladitya. The Maoists destroyed the Forest Development Corporation office in Thalapuzha on the 28th of last month. Posters were also put up demanding that plantation land be given to tribals and workers. The police have found out that the attack was carried out by the cadres of the Kabani faction of the Maoists.

During the last day, the copter, which flew for about an hour and a half, was suddenly brought down due to bad weather. The copter was taken on rent for a month from Delhi’s Chipsan Aviation for Rs 80 lakh. If any extra service is taken, the officials will have to pay Rs 90,00 per hour.

The search is for Moideen, Manoj, Santhosh, Vimalkumar and Soman of Maoist ‘Kabanidalam’. All are accused of attacking the forest office. It was also found that 18 people, including 6 women, are active workers in ‘Kabanidalam’. The Maoists had earlier rejected the package announced by the government to surrender.