Ooty: A high alert has been sounded on the check posts in Tamil Nadu, bordering Kerala and Karnataka, to prevent the possible infiltration of a group of Maoists, following a shootout in Kerala this afternoon.

According to police, six check posts bordering Kerala and one on Karnataka border are strengthened and police in nearby stations are asked to be in preparedness in the view of the possible transit of extremists. Stations are fortified with sand bags and policemen armed with sophisticated weapons, they said.

Police headquarters here received information that three Maoists were reportedly shot dead in an exchange of fire with the Thunderbolt force in Kerala in the forest area near Nilambur, prompting the strengthening of the security at check posts, they said.

Vehicle checking has been intensified, particularly of those coming from Kerala, to prevent the possibility of the extremists escaping to Karnataka, they said.