Beltangady: False Alarm - 'Naxals' Turn out to be Truant Children!

Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (VM)

Update: 11.30 pm
 
Beltangady, Nov 28: The ANF combing operation reported earlier on Wednesday November 28 turned out to be a 'false alarm', as the two persons the ANF personnel had taken to be Naxals turned out to be children who had escaped from home!

Earlier, the ANF personnel during their combing operations had spotted two persons escaping on noticing the police. After a few minutes of follow-up in the forest, in a place called Urbiligundi of the Kataje forest area, the ANF came across a few residential tents. Chicken, rice, clothes and other items were found in them. IGP (ANF) Alok Mohan had said the supplies may have been secretly brought for Naxals.

On investigating, a person identified as Hasanabba of Charmadi hotel gave certain details to the ANF team that gave a new twist to the entire incident.

On learning of the list of items found, Hasanabba expressed doubts that this may have been the work of children who had gone missing four days ago. The children were found in the evening and with their statement, the entire truth was spilled.

Incidentally, at the time, nearly 300 ANF and police personnel had been pressed into combing operations in places like Charmadi, Neriya and Ambatemale.

Details

The place where these items were found is nearly 1.5 km from Hasanabba's Charmadi hotel. Rice, cloth, kerosene, chicken, food plates, wheat flour, aluminium wires, sugar, stereo and other items were found at the spot.

The earlier reports had stated that these items were stored to be supplied to the Naxlas. The highers officials namely ANF IG Alok Kumar, SP Vasudeva Murthy, ASP M N Anucheth, SI Yogeesh Kumar, Venoor  SI Umesh Uppalige and others had raised doubts regarding the possibilities of Naxal activities in the area.

Addresssing media persons, Alok Mohan had said that the Naxals in Sullia and Subramanya had fled to Wayanand in Kerala, and that there were totally 25 Naxals to hunt whom 5 teams would be operating.

There is a team operating in this area as well. As there are no cooking utensils, it was suspected that these items may have been stocked for Naxals.

DK SP Abhishek Goyal had also reached the spot by then. As there were hundreds of food plates, the suspicion had grown stronger. But the entry of children into the picture changed the entire incident.

Savad (14), son of Abdul Manaf and Johra, and resident of Charmadi Kundottu, and Salam (11), resident of Ujire TB Cross were reportedly missing for the last four days. They had stolen a few items from the neighbours and had taken them along, Hasanabba and others informed the police.

However, no case was registered as it had become a habit with the boys to disappear and return after a few days. In fact, this was the fourth time they had escaped from home. Earlier they had fled to Ullal, Kakkinje and Kaup. It is said that they would wander away as they had no interest in going to school and did not want to stay at home either.

The boys had stolen the items and stored them in the forest area. When they noticed the police, they were frightened and escaped into the forest. It is them that the ANF mistakingly assumed to be Naxals earlier.

As the news spread, the locals too joined in to search for the boys. After a prolonged search, they were found hiding in the toilet of an Anganavadi School near Mattur Temple, Charmadi. Even then they managed to escape from the hands of around 60 people who were trying to catch them. However, they were later caught and handed over to the police.

After interrogation, they were handed over to their parents. The children have said that they had gone to the forest to live there.

Earlier Report

Beltangady: ANF Raids Naxal Camp - One Held?
 
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (VM)
 
Beltangady, Nov 28: The Anti-Naxal Force on Wednesday November 28 reportedly attacked a Naxal camp at Charmadi-Somanakadu forest under Beltangady police station limits.

Sources said that one Naxal was reportedly held by the ANF team.
 
It is learnt that there were 6 to 7 Naxals in the camp. The ANF team is said to have seized their belongings during the raid.
 
The ANF team has also been conducting combing operations in Chikmagalur forest and other places.