Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (MS)

Karkala, Sep 29: Rumours are circulating in the Western Ghats area that six Naxals, led by suspected leader Vikram Gowda, are planning to lay down their arms.

Authorities are aware of these rumours, and it is believed that the Naxals, recently spotted near the forest border, are camping at the base of the Western Ghats. A team of Armed Police Force (ANF) personnel continues to monitor the area.

Earlier, the state government released an instruction poster featuring photos of 22 Naxals. Since then, some have been killed in encounters with the ANF, while others have surrendered, reducing the number to 12.

Reports suggest that only six to eight remain active, with only a few originating from Karnataka. It is speculated that a large-scale operation by the governments of Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, internal rifts among Naxals in Kerala, and a decline in civilian support are contributing to the anticipated surrender.

The government has established a state-level committee for the surrender and rehabilitation of Naxals, aiming to reintegrate them into mainstream society. Mediation efforts are reportedly being made by individuals from the coastal region of Karnataka.

To date, 14 naxals have surrendered under the government’s Naxal package. Notable surrenders include Venkatesh, Jaya, Saroja, and Mallika in 2010; Sirimane Nagaraj and Noor Julfikar in 2014; Bharathi, Fateem, Padmanabha, and Parashuram in 2016; and Kanyakumari, Shivu, and Chennamma in 2017.

Naxal activities in Malnad and the Western Ghats have significantly decreased following the arrests of B G Krishnamurthy and Savithiri, who were key figures in the movement.

Jeethendar Kumar Dayama, SP of the ANF, said, “Attempts are ongoing to bring the Naxals into mainstream society. A package of up to Rs 7.5 lac is offered for those who lay down their arms under various categories.”

K P Sripal, a member of the state Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Committee, stated, “We are pleased if the Naxals surrender and join mainstream society. This does not mean that the cases registered against them will be withdrawn. They will be handled as special cases and resolved as quickly as possible. We will provide all necessary facilities, including cash, and they will have the opportunity for legal recourse as per the law and constitution.”