Vikram Gowda, a prominent Maoist leader from Karnataka, was killed during a reported shootout with the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) on the night of November 18 at Peetabailu village near Hebri in Udupi district. This marks the first encounter resulting in the death of a Maoist leader in Karnataka since 2012. Following the incident, ANF and police have ramped up combing operations in the region.
Gowda, 44, a member of the tribal Malekudiya community and a class 4 dropout, had been evading authorities for 22 years, with over 114 cases against him in Karnataka and Kerala. He was implicated in the 2011 murder of Sadashiva Gowda, a bamboo basket weaver. Alongside Gowda, five other members of the Maoist group ‘Kabini Dalam’ were reportedly seeking refuge and contemplating surrendering in several districts, including Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
During the operation, ANF personnel recovered a 9-mm carbine machine gun believed to have been used by Gowda. No ANF members were injured in the exchange. Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed Gowda’s death and noted that three associates remain missing. The police had intensified their search following sightings of Maoists Raju and Lata, leading to the fatal encounter after a tip-off.
D. Roopa, IGP, Internal Security, briefed media representatives in Udupi about the operation on November 19. Meanwhile, Banjagere Jayaprakash from the Karnataka State committee advocating rehabilitating Left Wing Extremists, criticized Gowda’s death and called for a judicial investigation, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to encourage Maoists to reintegrate into society. Published on November 20, 2024.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/vikram-gowda-encounter-death-in-karnataka/article68888818.ece
Category : Karnataka
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