The Chikkamagaluru police have sought cancellation of the bail granted to Noor Sridhar, former left-wing extremist, for allegedly violating a bail condition. The move has attracted criticism from freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, a member of the committee set up by the government to encourage left-wing extremists to give up arms.
The police submitted an application seeking cancellation of the bail in a Chikkamagaluru court, according to Chikkamagaluru SP K. Annamalai. The officer defended the move stating that he violated one of the bail conditions that mandated him to inform the local police before moving out. “Mr. Sridhar had stated Chitradurga as a place of his stay. He kept travelling to different places, without informing the police. We have every right to ask cancellation of his bail.”
Mr. Sridhar and Nagaraj Sirimane were assimilated in the mainstream in December 2014. Mr. Sridhar was remanded in judicial custody as he faced serious cases. He got bail in January 2015, after about 40 days.
Reacting to this, Mr. Sridhar suspected that “a powerful lobby” unhappy with the struggles he has been involved in was behind the police’s objection to the bail. “It may be the planters who are unhappy with our struggles for tribals at Diddalli. Otherwise, the issue they are citing is just technical,” he said.
The police can object to his bail only if he is absconding or attempted to damage evidence against him. “I have done nothing of this sort. I have brought this issue to the notice of the State committee, which brought us to the mainstream,” he said.
Mr. Sridhar added that an officer at Chitradurga had said the spirit of the bail condition was to be accessible to police whenever required, since he travelled extensively. “I had shared my contact number with Nagaraj Honnur, the then Circle Inspector of Chitradurga,” he said. (Mr. Honnur is no more.)
Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy pointed out that Mr. Sridhar had not gone missing. Instead, he had been actively involved in struggles intended to alleviate poverty. He and Mr. Nagara brought many pro-people organisations under one platform and formed a forum Samanathegagi Janandolana. “They have not participated in any event secretly, instead maintained a close relationship with the State government through the struggle. I have personally participated in their events and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also responded to issues raised by them,” he said.
Mr. Annamalai, reacting to Mr. Doreswamy’s statement, said he was only doing his duty. “I wish Mr. Doreswamy read the policy of rehabilitation of the left-wing extremes (Naxals) carefully,” he added.
