MANGALORE: Naxalites operating in the Malnad region of the State attacked the Range Forest Office at Kerekatte in Chikmagalur district, some 20 km from Sringeri, in the early hours of Wednesday. A group of 18 to 20 armed naxalites descended on the office around 1.30 a.m. and went about destroying property unhindered for nearly 45 minutes.

Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) H.N. Sathyanarayana Rao, who was away in Bangalore to attend an official meeting, rushed to Kerekatte via Mangalore on receiving information of the attack. Mr. Rao told The Hindu that the naxal group entered the office and burned records. The group also set ablaze a computer and a wireless set.

The naxalites broke windowpanes of the office and went to a shed nearby and set ablaze a jeep parked there, he said. The group, which later targeted the residence of the Range Forest Officer, fled the scene after breaking its windowpanes. The officer was away in Bangalore.

Forest watchers, who were present on the scene, were unable to stop the attack. Mr. Rao said Sringeri police came to know about the incident around 4 a.m., when one of the forest watchers went to Nemmar and informed them. The naxalites had long vanished by the time police reinforcements arrived. The naxalites had snapped telephone lines before entering the area.

Mr. Rao said the police and the anti-naxal force had stepped up combing in the area. Steps had been initiated to coordinate all ongoing operations against them.

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