The dead policeman, Mahadeva S Mane (40) of Indi in Bijapur and from the 9th battalion KSRP police, was serving in the Karkala ANF camp on deputation.
The ANF personnel were conducting combing operations at Naravi, Kuthlur, Navoor and Savanalu when they were fired upon by the ultras. Even before the ANF members, who saw Naxals approaching from the opposite direction, could open fire, the 10-member gang, including four women, fired at the police, killing Mane on the spot, according to police. The Naxals are believed to have retreated into the woods. None of them could be apprehended. The shootout lasted for a few minutes and casualties in the ranks of the rebels is not known. ANF personnel from Udupi and Chikmagalur have been deployed and the search operation continued till Sunday evening, but in vain. A pair of sandals, one sickle, one torch and four bamboo sticks were seized from the spot.
It is suspected that the Naxals belonged to the Netravati group led by Vikram Gowda.
Two teams of ANF (14 men each) have been carrying out search operation in Navur for the last three days. “ANF members were carrying out combing operations on Saturday when they confronted the Naxals at 11:30 pm,” Superintendent of Police Laburam said.
DGP Neelam Achutha Rao who visited Belthangady Sunday evening announced Rs 10 lakh to Mane’s family. The family would be allowed to retain its quarters for the time being and one member in the family will be given a government job.
Neelam Achutha Rao, DGP, Bipin Gopalakrishna, ADGP (security), Bhaskar Rao, ANF IGP, Alok Mohan, IGP (Western range), Laburam, SP, Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda, MLA Vasanth Bangera and district-in-charge Minister Krishna Palemar paid last respect to the departed soul at Belthangady police station in the evening.
However, the police version of the encounter is being questioned by local residents. As the policemen were reportedly stationed in a more secure area and the bullet entered Mane’s back, there is a possibility that it had come from his own team members, they say. “If the Naxals opened fire from the opposite direction, how can it enter the victim’s back?,” a villager asked. Senior officials, however, dismissed the contention.
