Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 22: Eshwar alias Veeramanai from Tamil Nadu, who is suspected to be an activist of Maoist organization that planned and executed the murder of teacher, Seetanadi Bhoja Shetty, within the limits of Hebri police station some years ago, was produced in the district and sessions court by the police on Monday August 21.
The court has now adjourned the case to November 15 for framing of charges.
Bhoja Shetty, who was critical of naxal activities and who the naxals suspected to be a police informer, was murdered by shooting at him in front of the gate near his home at 8.15 pm on May 15, 2008. Veeramani had gone underground from the day of this murder. The police had filed charge sheet against 11 suspected naxals relating to this murder. Veeramani has been accused of being part of the conspiracy to commit this murder. In the meanwhile, he was arrested from a tea stall at Coimbatore by Tamil Nadu police on May 4, 2015 relating to five cases he faces there.
Veeramani, currently lodged in Coimbatore prison, was brought by police on the basis of body warrant. The accused was represented by advocate, Shantaram Shetty. The case now stands posted to November 15. Among the 11 suspected naxals who were part of this conspiracy, two have died in different encounters. Vasant had died in an encounter which happened within Ajekar police station limits, while Manohar had died in an exchange of fire with anti naxal force near Kalasa. Devendra, Nandakumar, Chandrashekhar, and Asha have already been acquitted in this case.
Main accused in the case, Sanjeev Kumar, who had surrendered to Andhra Pradesh police, has absconded. The other main accused, B J Krishnamurthy, is yet to be arrested. Neelaguli Padmanabh, Ramesh and Veeramani are being investigated by the court.
Veeramani, who was a Tamil high school teacher at Halasuru Bengaluru, and faces ten cases in three states,immediately on coming out of the court, shouted slogans in favour of naxal activities, against imposition of Hindi, seeking social reforms and condemning the government for its repressive measures. He hailed naxals, duly terming them as patriots who will not allow aborigines from Western Ghat forests to be forcibly shifted out.