Udupi district police have provided a comprehensive update on the status of Naxal-related cases, revealing that a total of 68 such cases have been registered in the jurisdiction. According to the Superintendent of Police, Hariram Shankar, the judicial process for these cases is at various stages.
Current Status of Naxal Cases in Udupi
Out of the 68 registered cases, a significant number are actively moving through the legal system. 39 cases are currently under judicial trial, while 28 cases have been disposed of by the courts. In one instance, a split charge sheet was filed, and additional charge sheets are pending against three accused individuals. Furthermore, one case is under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Highlighting the progress in the last six months, SP Hariram Shankar stated that 11 Naxal accused were produced before the court in connection with the 39 ongoing cases. Charges have been formally framed against all these accused persons, and their trials are presently underway.
Details of Key Accused and Their Charges
The police have released specific information about several individuals accused in these cases, detailing their aliases, origins, and current legal status.
M Vanajakshi, also known as Jyothi or Kalpana, is a 58-year-old from Kalasa taluk in Chikkamagaluru district. She is currently lodged in Bengaluru jail, with charges framed against her in six separate cases.
BG Krishnamurthy, who has used multiple aliases including Vijay and Bhagat, is a 46-year-old from Sringeri taluk, Chikkamagaluru. He is held in the high-security Viyyur prison in Thrissur, Kerala, facing charges in seven cases.
Savithri JL, alias Usha or Rajitha, aged 33 and from Kalasa taluk, is detained in the Women's prison in Thrissur. She has charges framed in two cases.
Two accused are currently out on bail: Neelaguli Padmanabha from Koppa taluk (charges in two cases) and Tombattu Lakshmi (also known as Lakshmi Poojary or Prema), a 39-year-old from Kundapur taluk in Udupi, who faces charges in three cases.
Other Prominent Accused in Custody
The list includes several other individuals facing a higher number of charges. Latha, who has used names like Shyamala and Sneha, is a 45-year-old from Sringeri taluk. She is in Bengaluru jail with charges framed in a staggering 12 cases.
Mahesh, known by numerous aliases including Madhava and John, is a 49-year-old from Manvi taluk in Raichur district. He is incarcerated in Viyyur prison, Kerala, with eight cases against him.
Kanyakumari alias Suvarna, from Mavinkere village in Chikkamagaluru, is in Bengaluru jail with charges in 10 cases.
One of the accused with the most cases is AS Suresh, also known as Mahesh or Pradeep. This 50-year-old from Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru, is held in Kannur central prison in Kerala, facing charges in 23 cases.
Sundari, alias Geetha or Bittu, from Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada district, is in a Bengaluru jail with charges in nine cases.
Prabha alias Hosagadde Prabha, from Thirthahalli taluk in Shivamogga district, is currently staying at the Sai old age home in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. She has charges framed against her in six cases.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The detailed breakdown provided by the Udupi police underscores the ongoing and complex legal battle against Naxal-related activities in the region. With charges framed in all 39 cases currently under trial, the judicial process is set to move forward. The disclosure of the accused's details, including their multiple aliases and wide geographical spread from Chikkamagaluru to Raichur and even to shelters in Tamil Nadu, highlights the pan-Karnataka nature of these investigations. The police continue to work on the pending charge sheets and the single CID investigation to bring all aspects of these cases to a conclusion.
