Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Nov 30: The naxal-infested hutments and hamlets located inside the deep forests of the taluk on the foot of the Western Ghats, which have often been in the news because of the visits of the naxal gangs, have woken up to a new information. A girl from one of these villages has turned into an active naxal member, and was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh policemen from Bangalore recently.

Initially, the news about the arrest of naxals from Bangalore had not attracted any added attention, as the people had dismissed them as routine happenings. The people suddenly got up and took notice, when it was revealed that one of the naxals arrested, was Gangamma from the taluk. After enquiries, they found out that naxal Gangamma is none other than Lakshmi Poojarti, fifth of the six children of Panju Poojary and Abbakka Poojarti, living in a hut at Irkigadde village in the deep forests on the road leading to Tombattu village from Amasebail in the taluk.

Lakshmi had studied up to the seventh standard, and thereafter, was forced to work as a cooly. She was in the forefront of a few social-centric activities like the one against liquor outlets in the villages. She was one of a few youngsters who got influenced by the naxal preaching. A few of them later returned to their families. The fact that she has a beautiful voice and talent to sing folk and other songs, had made her a valuable member of the naxal gangs, and her name was heard during some naxal operations during the last three to four years.

Although there are rumours that she has later married, this information is yet to be confirmed. Her family says, she did not return after leaving home on March 6, 2006, telling them that she would visit a friend in Muttinakatte village. However, police sources, based on their information, assert that she had visited her home twice or thrice after she left home.