Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jan 17: Based on the information that three Naxal operatives had visited three families living at Mittamajalu near Addahole, Shiradi village, a contingent of Anti Naxal Force (ANF) arrived at the spot and undertook combing operations in Shiradi and Shishila protective forests.
The contingent comprises 24 personnel led by inspector of ANF Karkala, Thimmappa Naik, and sub-inspector of ANF Hebri unit, Amaresh. The armed contingents, split into two units, reached Mittamajalu on Tuesday afternoon and gathered information from deputy superintendent of police, Srinivas. Later, the contingent led by Thimmappa Naik entered Shishila forest while the other contingent began its operation in Shiradi forest.
Deputy superintendent of police, Srinivas, rural police inspector here, Gopal Naik, Uppinangady police sub-inspector, Nandakumar and other police personnel have camped at Mittamajalu. They collected detailed information about the visit by Naxals from the families concerned and also people living in the vicinity. On the basis of statements given by three families which were visited by a three-member gun-wielding team believed to be Naxals, a case was registered.
Navneet, son of M K Mohan, said that he developed cold feet after seeing Naxals for the first time in his life, and therefore, he ran away. "I was alone at home then. I heard the dog barking at someone. When I came out, I saw three persons with guns in their hands who came to the courtyard and announced that they were Naxals. I immediately ran to the house of my uncle, Suresh next door," he explained.
The Naxals then went to neighbouring house, which belongs to Leela. Introducing themselves as Naxals, they asked Leela not to panic. They questioned her about details of rich persons living in the area. "The gang having two men and a woman came into my house when myself, my mother, and daughter of my brother were inside. They asked for rice and other things. We said that we did not have these things. When I offered to make tea and Dosa for them, the visitors refused. They gave their names as Rajesh, Lata and Purushotham. Rajesh said he was from Sringeri. When they were asking about rich people in the area, my brother, Suresh, came there. Rajesh accompanied Suresh to his house. The gang, which wore green color trousers, were in my house only for ten minutes," she stated.
Suresh said that Rajesh sought ten kg rice and other items and that he could give them about three kg boiled rice, eight kg raw rice, tomato, potato, and oil. "They sought information about a person named Riju from here. They claimed that their companion, Yellappa, was killed as Riju conveyed information to police about the visit of Naxals to Subrahmanya," he stated.
The police showed photographs of Naxals to the families, and they identified Lata and Rajesh among them. It is being said that the lady who gave her name as Lata, might by Mundagaru Lata, notorious Naxal.
At the same time, based on information about Naxals visit here, Anti Naxal Squad has intensified its operations in Naxal-infested areas of Chikkamagaluru district like Kerekatte, Tanikdou, Menasinahadya etc. District superintendent of police, K Annamalai, held a meeting with officials of the department in this connection.