Surrender of Maoists before CM raises many suspicions: Annamalai

BJP leader and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar speaking to reporters in Udupi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

Tamil Nadu BJP State president K. Annamalai said there is a lot of suspicion over the way the six Maoists recently surrendered before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and also over the death of Maoist leader Vikram Gowda in a police encounter.

Talking to reporters in Udupi on Saturday, Mr. Annamalai, who served as the Superintendent of Police of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru districts, said the Maoists should ideally have surrendered before the Superintendent of Police or the Deputy Commissioner. “The surrender process looks incomplete. The State government appears to have made it easy for Maoists to surrender. People do not believe in the statement of surrendered Maoists who say that they have hidden their weapons in the forest. Residents have expressed doubts over the death of Vikram Gowda in the encounter,” he said.

BJP State General Secretary and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar questioned the absence of weapons when the Maoists surrendered. This raises suspicion that the surrendered Maoists might have hidden weapons in the houses of urban naxals.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Kumar said an audio of Vikram Gowda stating he will not surrender before the government has been widely circulated on social media. For this reason, it appears that the Anti-Naxal Force first killed Gowda and then made other Maoists surrender. The CM and the State Home Minister should clarify the matter.

Mr. Kumar asked Director General and Inspector General of Police Alok Mohan to clarify whether he would accept the way the Maoists surrendered. While the State government is yet to release funds for rehabilitation of more than 100 persons living in forest areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga, it is in a hurry to release rehabilitation package funds for the surrendered Maoists, Mr. Kumar said.

Udupi MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said it appeared as if the State government has surrendered before the Maoists. “Maoists who surrendered earlier are saying they have not yet received any rehabilitation package from the government. People living in Naxal-affected areas are not getting basic facilities,” Mr. Poojary told reporters.