'Locals fear informing police'

It was a close shave for Sadashiva Choudhary (25), a constable attached to the Anti Naxal Force (ANF). The bullet fired by naxals grazed his head during the combing operation on Saturday.

Sadashiva, undergoing treatment at Primary Health Centre in Belthangady, said the naxals had fanned out in eight teams and the one who fired at him was in black clothes and appeared to be hailing from Andhra Pradesh.

‘Escaped unhurt’

“I escaped unhurt since I jumped the moment a bullet was fired by the naxal. I returned the fire but the ultra had disappeared by that time,” said Sadashiva.

He said a team of ANF will have a front leader and a back leader during combing operation and he was the back leader on the day of the incident.

Sadashiva, who hails from Jamakhandi taluk in Bagalkot district joined the police service five years ago.

He has been with the ANF for the past two years.

He said local residents have ample information on naxals but are scared of passing on the intelligence to the police. “We need local support to combat the naxals,” he said.