The last vestiges of the naxal movement in Karnataka seem to be disappearing with three more left-wing extremists surrendering on Monday, taking the total number to 13 since 2010.
Suspected Maoists — Kanyakumari, 30; Suma, 32; and Shivu, 31, — surrendered to the Chikkamagaluru district administration and representatives of the State-level committee to oversee implementation of the policy to rehabilitate the left-wing extremists.
K. Annamalai, Chikkamagaluru SP, told The Hindu: “The number of naxals has come down drastically as these people have returned to mainstream. The State government’s programme to develop the naxal-affected area coupled with the policy to rehabilitate them has helped reduce their strength.” The officer pointed out that besides returning to mainstream, fresh recruitment had been stopped.
According to sources in the police, Mundagaru Latha, Vanajakshi and Angadi Pradeep are the only three active naxals in the State. Vikram Gowda, B.G. Krishnamurthy and a couple of others are said to have moved to Kerala. There have been no reports of any activity by the naxals in the district in the recent days, except the movement of some suspected Maoists in parts of Jayapura, Sringeri and Koppa, said sources.
The State government’s policy to rehabilitate left-wing extremists is said to have worked effectively to attract the Maoists to return to the mainstream. While in 2010, four persons accepted the compensation package offered by the government and returned to the mainstream, the last three years have seen nine members giving up the arms’ struggle.
Ms. Kanyakumari and Ms. Suma said the return of some members to the mainstream through the State-level committee inspired them to approach the committee.
Among those who surrendered on Monday, Ms. Kanyakumari, a native of Mudigere, who has 33 cases pending against her, was remanded in judicial custody, while two others who had no cases against them were released.
Ms. Suma alias Chennamma, a native of Mundaragi taluk in Gadag district, was active in the coastal part of the State. She had three cases earlier and was arrested once in 2007. Ms. Suma married Neelamegam of Tamil Nadu in 2009. There are no cases against Shivu, who married Kanyakumari two years ago. The couple has a baby.
“I joined Save Kudremukh campaign and visited many villages to spread awareness among the public in 2004. I worked with Padmanabh, Devaiah and others in the movement. In 2008, I moved to Bengaluru for health reasons and then married Shivu. Now, I have decided to return to the mainstream and start a new life,” said Ms. Kanyakumari.
When The Hindu contacted Gauri Lankesh, a member of the State-level committee on Tuesday, she said as of now there were no requests pending before the committee seeking an opportunity to return to the mainstream through the committee.
