Surrendered Maoists didn’t produce weapons: Karnataka Home Minister

Bengaluru: The six Maoists who surrendered in Bengaluru on Wednesday didn't produce their weapons, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday and proclaimed that Naxalism was “more or less finished” in the state.

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 voluntarily surrendered at a government event presided over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other senior Cabinet ministers.

“They (the six) didn’t have any weapons when they surrendered,” the Home Minister said. “An investigation has been launched to ascertain what happened and whether the weapons were disposed of.”

He added: “We believe that the Naxalism has ended 99 per cent in the state. Also, some of those who surrendered belonged to neighbouring states. Our CM will speak to his respective counterparts since cases are there in those states. There was nothing wrong with them surrendering before the CM. It has sent a message to the people of the state.”

Six remanded to judicial custody

The six Maoists were on Thursday afternoon produced before CCH 50, a special court for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru, and were remanded in judicial custody following a medical test.