GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 7th Jan. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday that the state government is working towards ensuring the surrender of active Maoists in the coming days, as part of the effort to make Karnataka “Naxal-free.” His statement follows reports that some suspected Maoists have shown interest in returning to the mainstream.
“The surrender process is underway, and we are in the final stages,” Parameshwara told reporters, adding that efforts to encourage Maoists to surrender began after the Vikram Gowda encounter. Officials have been working on this initiative at various levels, and the process is now nearing completion, with hopes that all planned steps will culminate in their surrender.
The Home Minister noted that similar efforts to reintegrate Maoists into society had been attempted in the early 2000s under Chief Minister S M Krishna. He assured that these procedures would be reviewed, as individuals willing to surrender had made certain requests for integration.
When asked about the possibility of the state being completely “Naxal-free” after the surrender, Parameshwara expressed optimism but acknowledged the challenges posed by Maoists’ continued presence across multiple states. “If no one comes from outside, we can indeed make the state Naxal-free,” he said.
The Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, recently hinted at a possible wave of surrenders from individuals involved in Naxal activities, stating that the state committee overseeing the rehabilitation policy is actively facilitating the process. He urged Maoists to surrender and join the democratic mainstream, assuring that the government would simplify and implement its surrender policy effectively.
The move follows the November 18, 2024, encounter in which Maoist leader Vikram Gowda was reportedly killed by anti-Naxal forces in Peetabailu village, Udupi district.
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