Days after Naxal leader Vikram Gowda (46) was gunned down by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) in Peethebailu in Hebri taluk, Udupi district, the civil society members of a government-appointed high-level committee to facilitate surrender and rehabilitation of Naxals in the state have demanded an investigation into the killing suspecting it to be a “fake encounter” by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF).
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“We will consider this as a murder as we cannot accept it to be an encounter based on only the police statement. We suspect the police firing was unprovoked though they have claimed that the Naxals had opened fire and Vikram had died in exchange of fire. We will visit the spot and speak to the locals before we write to the chief secretary (who heads the committee). We want a judicial probe into the incident. We urge the government to end these extrajudicial killings,” said writer Banjagere Jayaprakash, who is one of the three civil society members on the state-level committee, besides journalist Parvatheesh and advocate K.P. Sripal.
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Jayaprakash claimed that the committee had written a letter to Vikram Gowda and his team trying to convince them to surrender. “We had expressed our sympathy towards their struggle and demands and asked them to surrender while reminding them armed struggle was anti-Constitutional. But we doubt if the letter reached them. Even now, we urge the Naxals who are underground to surrender and be part of the mainstream,” said Jayaprakash, adding that the ANF had not informed the committee about the movement of the Naxals.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara defended the ANF action stating that the “Maoist had been evading arrest for the last two decades and was wanted in 61 cases”.
“The encounter was lawful and necessary for public safety,” said Parameshwara.
DGP for Internal Security Pronab Mohanty, who had visited Hebri on November 19—a day after the encounter—had clarified that the encounter was not pre-planned. “The police teams came face-to-face with Gowda during combing operations. Gowda was armed and there had been no indications of his surrender. The primary focus of the police was to encourage Naxal operatives to surrender. Multiple surrender and rehabilitation packages are available for those willing to give up arms,” said Mohanty, adding that it was a legitimate operation supported by evidence that is in the possession of the ANF.
Even as the combing operations are underway across Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, and neighbouring districts, Mohanty assured the citizens that public safety was their priority.
IGP (Operations) and Commander, ANF, D. Roopa Moudgil shared a post in defence of her team.
“Our boys fight against all odds in the forest without thinking about their lives and their families. That needs to be upheld, showcased, encouraged. They act in good faith, given their "mandate", what they are supposed to do dutifully,” said IPS Roopa, adding that Vikram Gowda alias Sreekant was active in trijunction forest of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and had been on the ‘most wanted’ list for last 20 years.
Elaborating on the operation, Roopa said that the team, led from front by Mohanty, was successful in the operation and killing of Gowda, who possessed deadly weapons. “Combing was continuous and has been continuous in the forest. Jitendra Dayama, a young 2019 batch officer, and his hardworking boys executed the plan meticulously and collected intelligence,” said the senior officer, adding that ANF’s goodwill among the locals owing to their creating basic infrastructure, water pipes, solar power, wooden bridges across small streams resulted in them sharing information about the Naxals.
“Vikram Gowda, 46 years old, was the ringleader of the South India naxal gang and he had 61 cases of murder, extortion, Arms Act cases against him in Karnataka and about 19 cases in Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” she added.
BJP leader C.T. Ravi slammed Jayaprakash for expressing “sympathy” towards the Naxals. “It is alarming to note that some people are expressing sympathy towards Naxals known for armed insurrection and use of violence. We have seen many people lose their lives due to Naxal attacks. Adivasis, farmers, police and journalists have been killed by Naxals in the country. But Banjagere Jayaprakash who stayed mum over all those instances, is today sympathising with Vikarm Gowda. This is anti-democratic and anti-constitutional. The anti-national forces are growing stronger because of the Naxal sympathisers occupying high positions,” Ravi said.
