Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomes Six members of Naxalites to mainstream in Chief Minister office Krisha in Bengaluru.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed on Wednesday that Karnataka was free from Naxalism after six Maoists, including four women, "voluntarily" surrendered at a government event.
The six are believed to be members of the last batch of Naxals in the state.
"I believe Naxalism is well and truly over in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah told reporters.
However, responding to a question, he said that the government would decide on dissolving the state's Anti Naxal Force (ANF) only after making absolutely sure that no signs of Naxalism were left in Karnataka.
The six surrendered Maoists include Mundagaru Latha from Sringeri, Vanajakshi Balehole from Kalasa, Sundari Kutluru from Dakshina Kannada, Mareppa Aroli from Raichur, Vasantha K from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and N Jeesha from Wayanad, Kerala.
The surrender was facilitated by the Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Committee, a government-appointed group consisting of writer Banjagere Jayaprakash, journalist Parvatish Bilidale and lawyer KP Sripal.
The Maoists surrendered at the deputy commissioner’s office in Chikkamagaluru in the morning after accepting a rehabilitation package from the government.
They were later brought to Bengaluru to participate in an official event at the chief minister's home office 'Krishna'.
Siddaramaiah greeted them and gave each a copy of the Constitution. On a lighter vein, he asked if they had read the Constitution.
Speaking on the occasion, Latha said: "We have left Naxalism and surrendered here. We will take part in pro-people movements within the purview of the law."
While the six will be produced before an NIA court in Bengaluru on Thursday, the state intelligence wing will continue to investigate cases against them, a high-ranking police officer told DH.
According to the officer, only one Naxal identified as Kotevunda Ravi remains in Karnataka and he, too, will surrender in a day or two.
Fast-track courts
Siddaramaiah said all cases related to the Maoists would be presented before fast-track courts for quick disposal.
Police data shows that Latha has 63 cases, Sundari 71, Vanajakshi 20, Merappa 50, Vasanth 8 and Jeesha 17. Most of these cases were filed in Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada districts.
What the Maoists want
Before the surrender, the Maoists presented a list of 27 demands to the government. These included changes in environmental policies, pro-farmers initiatives and closing cases against their Comrades in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and releasing them.
The Maoists also want the government to reject the Kasturirangan report and restrict tourism in the Western Ghats.
Other demands include a detailed investigation into the encounter of Maoist Vikram Gowda, who was gunned down by the ANF in November.
Siddaramaiah promised to discuss and consider all these demands at the cabinet. He also promised discussions with Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the surrender of Maoists and their demands.
He said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was already probing the encounter of Vikram.
A police officer in the know confirmed that the CID was investigating the sequence of events related to the exchange of fire between Vikram and the ANF near Peetabailu village in Hebri taluk, Udupi district, which led to his death.
Karnataka BJP general secretary Sunil Kumar, who represents the Karkala assembly constituency, which was once a hotbed of left-wing extremism, alleged that the state government had facilitated the Maoists' surrender to convert them into 'Urban Naxals'.
Siddaramaiah rebutted this by quoting BR Ambedkar. "We must stick to Constitutional methods to achieve our social and economic objectives. This means giving up methods of revolution, civil disobedience, non- cooperation and Satyagraha."
Rehabilitation package
The Maoists will be rehabilitated under categories 'A' and 'B' of the Naxal Surrender Policy Karnataka, 2024, and will receive Rs 3 lakh each.