Three men with arms held in TN forest

Three men armed with sickles, a spear and countrymade guns have been held in the Varusanadu hills in the district and they were being quizzed to find out if they have links with naxals, a forest official said here Saturday. The trio was spotted late Friday by a forest patrol in the Udangal region falling under the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest Range Officer Iqbal told PTI.

"Two countrymade guns, an air-gun, sickles and a spear have been seized from them," he said adding that three two-wheelers used by them have been seized as well. It was not immediately known as to why the three men traversed into the protected forest region, he added.

"The details about the three men have been shared with anti-Naxal police personnel and it is being ascertained if they have links with Naxals," the official said. The hills have seen suspected naxal activity in the past.

In 2007, a team comprising Special Task Force and police personnel arrested five suspected Maoists after a 45-minute gun battle in the Varusanadu Hills..