1 day Ago By Deepthi Sanjiv
UDUPI: Vikram Gowda, Karnataka's most wanted Naxalite - in 80 cases in the state and in Kerala - was killed in an encounter with police in a remote village 22km from Udupi district's Hebri between late Monday night and early Tuesday. Vikram (46), also known as Vikram Gowdlu and Shrikant, was leading Kabini Dalam-2, one of the two Naxal teams in Karnataka and belonged to Udupi district's Karkala taluk. He had studied up to Class IV.
IGP (internal security) Roopa D said this was the fourth successful encounter by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), set up in May 2005, adding that at least five to six Naxals remain active in Karnataka and operations to track them will continue. The encounter took place in a secluded area in Peethbail, Nadpal village, accessible only after an 8km trek through steep terrain. The area is sparsely populated, with just three houses in the vicinity.
However, police declined to give details about the exact time of the operation. Roopa told reporters that the Naxalite faced 61 cases in Karnataka, including murder and extortion, and 19 cases in Kerala. The IGP said a skirmish and warning preceded the encounter.
The ANF, under the internal security division, spearheaded the operation led by SP Jitendra Dayama. Roopa said combing operations were carried out over the past 10 days, with efforts ramped up since November 10. "We had received important leads.
ISD DGP Pronab Mohanty also visited the region recently to oversee operations in the forest and provide strategic directives," she said. Reinforcements for operation included 75 personnel from Karnataka State Industrial Security Force in Bengaluru and 25 personnel from Shivamogga, with support from Udupi district police. A judicial inquest will follow as part of the investigation.
A post-mortem at a private hospital in Manipal will follow that and then his body will be handed over to his family. " Naxalism in Karnataka is already on the decline, with state efforts actively targeting its eradication. In May 2024, Karnataka govt introduced a revised surrender policy aimed at encouraging Naxals to give up arms and reintegrate into society,'' she said.
.
