Udupi: Naxals Admit Killing Sadashiva Gowda, but Not Torture
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jan 10: In a letter received by certain local dailies on Monday January 9, a person who claimed himself to be Vishwa, representing naxal group which killed Sadashiva Gowda (50) from near Kabbinale village recently, confirmed that the naxals were involved in his murder. The letter however, claims that the naxals had not tortured Gowda as reported by the media.
“Sadashiva alias Sadhu Gowda was a police informer. We had repeatedly warned him to stop siding with the policemen and passing on information about naxal movement to them. He failed to heed to our warnings. Therefore, we punished him with death. We neither tortured him, nor do we believe in torturing people,” the letter dated January 5 and bearing the Muniyal post office stamp dated January 5, says.
The punishment of death imposed on Sadashiva Gowda was executed at Shantalabail forest near Tingalamakki in Kabbinale village, Karkala taluk, on December 20. Gowda, who used to collect forest produce and sell it, worked as police informer. He also was providing false information about some locals to the police. He was advised twice to desist with this practice, and given a final warning the third time. But he failed to heed to our advices and warnings, and continued to scout for our camping sites and movements from a distance, in the guise of collecting forest produce. On December 20, Gowda saw our camp from some distance and tried to flee. Our gang chased him and stopped him. When questioned, he said he was there to collect canes. When he was asked about his mobile phone, he said he did not have it. When we conducted body search, we got mobile phone attached to his waist. The mobile contained numbers of policemen. Therefore, our team eliminated him immediately. We also conveyed the news about his death by using his mobile phone to newspapers. At the same time, we insist that we never believe in torturing people like policemen, irrespective of the gravity of offence or extent of enmity, the letter explains.