After Vikram Gowda, Naxal activity on its way out in Karnataka

WITH the death of top Naxal leader Vikram Gowda (44) in an exchange of fire with the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) on Monday evening, and the arrest of Naxal leader BG Krishnamurthy (50) in 2021 by the Kerala police, the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) faces an existential crisis in Karnataka.

- BALA CHAUHAN @Bengaluru

Gowda's killing is a result of heightened search and combing operations by the ANF in Malnad region since August this year, after some Naxal activity was reported there. Setting aside reports in a section of media that Gowda or other Naxals were trying to surrender, Director General of Police, Internal Security Division (ISD), Pronab Mohanty said there was "no such proposal (of surrender) by the outlaws before the Karnataka police".

He added that the state government has a "clear policy of surrender, which is easy, fair and just. If Naxals want to surrender, they may do so by making use of the policy, and get mainstreamed in society".