As part of a conscious policy of the State Government to bring Maoists into the mainstream, four Naxalites in Malnad region in Karanataka have surrendered in order to lead a normal life. These Maoists surrendered before the Chikkamagaluru district administration in Karnataka on Monday. While two of them were arrested and sent to judicial custody, two others were let off.
Nilguli Padmanabh and his wife Bharathi and Parashuram and his wife Rizwana Begum are the suspected Maoists who appeared before the district administration, following mediation by journalist Gauri lankesh who is also a member of State Committee for Resettlement of leftist Maoists.
Padmanabh (45) of Koppa taluk in the district was suspected to be active in Maoist activities for the past 14 years. There are 19 cases against him in various police stations in Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Shivamogga districts.
He has been booked for murder, attempt to murder, possession of illegal weapons, smuggling of explosives, among others.
Rizwana (33) alias Kalpana alias Nirmala of Raichur district is said to be involved in the Maoist movement since 1999 and there are two cases against her in Chikkamagaluru and Raichur. The Sringeri police took Padmanabh and Rizwana into custody and produced them before the Magistrate in Koppa.
Parashurama and Bharathi who did not have any criminal antecedents were let off. Bharathi is a native of Bangarpet in Kolar district and is suspected to have been participating in Maoist activities since 2002 at Raichur, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada district.
Raju alias Parashuram (40) is a native of Kalaburagi. He was an active member of Chandra Banda Dalam of the erstwhile People’s War Group and an accomplice of dreaded naxal Ramesh alias Vijaykumar, who is in judicial custody.
Rizwana Begum from Kurktakunda in Raichur is
facing two cases. She is married to Raju alias Parashuram, who is a native of Gulbarga.
Both Rizwana Begum and Bharati, wife of Nilaguli Padmanabha, carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh each.
Superintendent of Police K Annamalai told the media persons that the Maoists had written to the State committee expressing their willingness to return to the mainstream. “As per the policy, we made them appear before the district committee. Padmanabha and Rizwana Begum will be taken into police custody as both are facing charges. Raju and Bharati, who are not facing cases, will go free. However, they have been asked to cooperate with the police if required”, he said.
Deputy Commissioner G. Satyavati told press persons that as per the Government’s rehabilitation policy, the Naxals who return to the mainstream will get Rs 5 lakh, besides financial assistance for vocational training.