Daijiworld Media Network - Chikmagalur (SP)

Chikamagalur, Aug  7: A gang of 12 naxals led by B G Krishnamurthy and Mundagar Lata raided a house located near Kerekatte in Sringeri taluk on the night of Tuesday August 5 and robbed a single barrel gun, Rs 27,000 in cash, mobile phone and essential comodities.

Five women cadres are said to be a part of the raiding gang. It is reported that the gang approached the house of Sathish, a merchant cum agriculturist at about 9.30 pm that day and threatened him. At gun point, the gang asked him for Rs 50,000. After Sathish expressed his inability to meet their demand, as he holds lesser cash, they accepted Rs 27,000 found in the house.

The policemen said that the gang also took away a single barrel gun, two mobile phones, one WiLL phone, five litres of oil and other commodities of day-to-day use. Before leaving, they also cautioned Sathish against informing the police before 10 am the next day. The naxals had severed electricity and telephone connections to the house and left behind some hand bills. They ordered him to support their struggle, not to inform the police and also not to exploit poor people.

Sathish's house is located by the side of national highway 13, about five kilometres from Tanigodu checkpost. He lives with his wife and son and also runs a small shop there.

Sathish had been an active member of the Anti-Action Committee formed to fight against the formation of Kudremukh national Park and he personally knew Krishnamurthy who led the naxal gang. It is gathered that the naxals have been facing financial crunch and have been approaching rich persons in the region with threats to cough up money for their struggle or face their ire.

The public are surprised that the anti-naxal force has not been able to lay their hands on the naxal leaders who are moving about freely in the area. The naxals are also reportedly threatening those tribal families who have volunteered to vacate the forest land.

Policemen under the guidance of additional superintendent of police Mutturaya, have visited the spot, registered Sathish's complaint and taken up investigation.

The naxals who later called offices of some newspapers, sought to justify their action. They said, their raid was aimed at teaching a lesson to the landlords. They alleged that Sathish is involved with sale of illicit liquor and by taking up contract works, has been defrauding the people. He holds four acres of land and also has encroached upon government lands. He undertakes contract works that are given under naxal area development funds and by undertaking sub-standard works, has been deceiving the tribals, they said.

He is in the BJP and is selling arrack with police support. He also exploits labourers. "Our fight against liquor menace will continue," they said. While confessing that they had taken away Rs 10,000, a gun, two mobile phones and other essentials, they said that this money was earned by Sathish through exploitation of the poor. The road between Huruni-Matuvalli and Seerlige which was laid on contract by Sathish a year ago, is in a very bad condition they said.