Govt working to bring Maoists to mainstream

Home minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the state is working to facilitate the surrender of Maoists, with the ultimate goal of making Karnataka free of Maoist influence.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU:

Speaking on Tuesday, Parameshwara said: "The process (for surrender) is underway, and we need to finalise it. After the Vikram Gowda incident (encounter), we called upon them (Maoists) to surrender. Officials have been working in this direction at various levels, and now we feel it has reached an advanced stage. We will continue working toward this, and if everything goes as planned, we will ensure their surrender."

The government's initiative for introducing the Maoists into the mainstream gained momentum after the killing of Vikram Gowda, a key Maoist leader, during an encounter in the Pithabailu area of Udupi district in November last year. Gowda, who had been on the run for over two decades, was a central figure in Maoist operations in the region.

After the encounter in which Vikram Gowda was killed, Siddaramaiah called on the Maoists to surrender. "Through this, our government wants all the Naxalites in Karnataka to come into the mainstream. Naxalites should come into the mainstream of democracy," he had said.

Family members of some Maoists have also made public appeals for their return. Sundari's brother, Anand, who left the Maoist movement years ago, expressed his hope for her surrender.