Some tribals from Tamil Nadu had informed Kerala forest officials that about 15 to 20 persons were found moving with guns and rifles towards Attapadi and Agali on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, the sources said.
Forest officials from Kerala, led by Ranger Prabhakaan, carried out search in their area last night, while the STF in Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu was immediately alerted about the movement, they said.
A group of STF under Sub-Inspector Dinakaran reached the spot and are carrying out combing operations in Tamil Nadu area, they said.
The operations are being carried out as a few activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India were arrested on the Kerala border some five years ago. The men could be members of banned organisations like SIMI, Maoists or poachers, the sources said.