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NT Bureau
Chennai, July 3:

        Police have launched a search in the city for ultras reportedly belonging to a Maoist outfit, who fled after lawmen stumbled upon a training camp during combing operations at Periyakulam recently. It is said police have managed to obtain vital clues after three terrorists arrested during the raid were interrogated.

        It may be recalled that acting on a tip-off, a team headed by 'Q' Branch CID inspector Ramaraj launched combing operations on the high ranges of Periyakulam recently. During the search, the police found a training camp being run at a hamlet — Pudukottai off Kumbakkarai falls.

        On seeing the team, the terrorists made good an escape, by fleeing into the dense forest. However, police personnel managed to catch three persons and recovered arms from them.

        Interrogations with the terrorists revealed that one Ranjith, residing in Chennai was the mastermind behind the camp. A search is on for Ranjith in the city. Ranjith hails from a village called Palipattai. He had moved out of his house after his father got married a second time.

        In 2003, he was arrested for pasting posters condoling the death of naxalites in Bangalore and later released.

        Senior police officials carried out enquiries with those arrested from Periyakulam. Those held were identified as Vel Murugan, a law student, Palanivel and Muthuselvan. They confessed that they were taken to Periyakulam to be part of an outfit that was formed comprising students from Backward and Most Backward Classes. However, they were forced to undergo arms training, the arrested men said.

        Muthuselvan is a native of Samayanallur and Palanivel hails from Veeranam and is said to be involved in a murder case.

        Meanwhile, police have also intensified search operations in the forest areas in Udhagamandalam to track down terrorists reportedly camping there.