Bengaluru: Karnataka Police have killed one of the most wanted Maoist leaders of South India, Vikram Gowda, in an encounter in the Kabbinale forest region in Udupi district.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced this to the media on Tuesday. He said, “Our police forces encountered dreaded naxal leader Vikram Gowda on Monday evening. After being spotted by the police, Vikram Gowda opened fire on the police. The police, in turn, opened fire on him and killed him.”

Vikram Gowda’s other three associates, who were with him, however, managed to escape from the police forces. Parameshwara stated that the authorities have continued the combing operation in the region.

The police had been keeping a vigil on Vikram Gowda’s movements. They had collected credible input about his movements and finally launched the operation, he stated.

“We thought the naxal movement had ended in the state. But, last week, naxal leaders Raju and Latha’s movements were tracked in the state. The combing operation was conducted for over a week,” Parameshwara stated.

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However, the forces gathered input about Vikram Gowda’s movements, and under inevitable circumstances, he was encountered, Parameshwara stated.

“The Vikram Gowda team had attacked the police forces, and the police had to shoot him down. The state government, in its attempt, had brought many naxals to the mainstream in the Pavagada region of Tumakuru district earlier through dialogues,” the Home Minister said.

“These mainstreaming attempts are continuing currently as well. The state government will allow Naxals who want to surrender their weapons to lead normal lives. This process will go on. However, these incidents will occur naturally when they try to flee the police in the forest region,” Parameshwara stated.

The police had been hunting for Vikram Gowda for the last 20 years, and every time, he managed to escape. Though police spotted him several times and even launched operations, he could not be caught. Finally, he has been killed in police action, said the state Home Minister.

 

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–IANS