'Forest dept torture forced Vasanth to join naxal movement'

Sudhkar along with Babu Malekudiya, father of Vasanth Gowda had come to Manipal to receive the body of the slained Naxal after the post mortem report here on Tuesday.
“We are agriculturists and are earning livelihood by hard work. However, the torture by the forest department to evict us led him to join Naxal movement. In fact, his sister Sundari has left the house 4 to 5 years ago. We do not know what has happened to her. She does not come home,” said Sudhakar.

There are 30 to 35 houses in Kuthloor which comes under Kudremukh National Park jurisdiction. Even Vasanth Gowda’s house comes under it.  
He said: “Police gave us information on the encounter over telephone. Till then, we were not aware of the encounter. They asked us to receive the body from KMC in the morning. In fact, police only brought us here in their vehicle.”

Vasanth’s father Sundar alias Babu can not hear properly. He has two wives. The first wife has five children including Vasanth Gowda. The second wife has one son. Babu Malekudiya said “children do not hear our words. After we started asking Vasanth what work he is doing and where is he working, he stopped coming home. He has not come home for the last seven to eight years.”
DH News Service