R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)

Karkala, Sep 21: In what may be termed as a relief to the government, two Naxals who were in hiding for the past several years have offered to surrender and join the mainstream.

C M Noor Zulfikar alias Sridhar, a resident of Chitradurga Chennakeshavapura Layout, and Sirimane Nagaraj have come forward to surrender themselves following talks with the government.

A high-level discussion by the government, through an editor of a newspaper, have yielded fruits and it is said that the two have expressed desire to surrender. It is learnt that Sridhar and Nagaraj have put forth several demands, and it is still a question as to how the government would respond to the demands.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Naxal Force has curtailed the combing operation in the Western Ghats and is looking forward to the process of surrendering.

The government had proclaimed a reward of Rs one lac on each of the two.

A shootout incident had occurred at Menasinahadya in the house of Cheeramma. Besides, in an encounter at the house of Ramappa Poojary in Karkala taluk by district police superintendent and inspector Ashokan during mid November 2003, persons identified as Hajima and Parvathi were killed while Yashoda survived after sustaining serious injuries.

When Yashoda was questioned, the spread of Naxalism in the vicinity and in Western Ghats came to light. The government had conducted several operations to find the accused Sirimane Nagaraj and C M Noor Zulfikar alias Sridhar. Handbills showing their pictures were pasted in several public places. A reward of Rs one lac each was announced on their heads. It is said that for the last few years, they were in hiding without committing any criminal activities.