Bettiah: A group of armed Maoists has reportedly entered the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (VTR) forests from neighbouring Nepal, sending security personnel into a tizzy.

Sources are pegging the number of Maoists at around 70, including women. They supposedly gained access by crossing the border through Gobardhana near Ramnagar, a West Champaran district town.

Bettiah superintendent of police (SP) Jayant Kant admitted to have noticed the movement of Maoists in Nepal's bordering areas. "We have noticed their movement in the bordering areas of Nepal like Valmikinagar, Matiyarwa, Gobardhana and some other areas in and around Ramnagar in the past two months," said Jayant Kant, refusing to give more information in this regard.

The special task force (STF) had recently arrested an extremist at Shivnaha in Ganouli forest area. VTR chief conservator S. Chandrasekhar confirmed he had written to the to the district administration for police protection to forest officials. In 2006, Maoists had blown up a house belonging to the forest department at Jimari in Chiutaha forest area. Armed Maoists also attacked a forest officer in Bankatwa Don village under Gogarihiya police station and snatched weapons in 2011.

On September 30, Maoists injured forest employees, attacking Manor anti-poaching camp in VTR's Ganouli area.