Naxals recruit educated youth to their fold

BANGALORE: A day after killing three Naxalites in an encounter in Chickamagalur, it has now become clear that the Maoist extremists have been attracting the educated youth to propagate and conduct their operations in the jungles of Western Ghats.

The anti-naxal force (ANF) is now concentrating on finding the sympathizers of the extremists' group in and around Chickamagalur and Udupi, two districts located on both sides of the Western Ghats.

Among the three Naxals gunned down by the ANF at Mavianahalla in Chickamagalur, Manohar's name stands apart as he is a graduate and was involved in several progressive movements in his native district of Shimoga. He hails from former chief minister S Bangarappa's home constituency Soraba in Shimoga district.

Manohar was trained under the Maoists at Raichur. He returned to Shimoga and joined a local newspaper as a reporter. He escaped in an earlier encounter with the police while he was in Raicur camp. Later when he was caught, he served a two year jail term and returned to Shimoga, where he joined the newspaper.

He was missing for the last couple of months. Apparently, he had joined his 'comrades' holed up in Western Ghat region coming under Chickamagalur district. His family was scouting for a bride for him,
when he was killed in the encounter in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Devendrappa alias Vishnu was from Soraba Taluk's Tattur village. He was a post-graduate. He also had got involved in several progressive movements in his district of Shimoga along with Manohar. He was also shot dead by the ANF.

The third man, Naveen, who was killed in Wednesday's encounter, was from Mudigere of Chickamagalur. Police have no clue about his background.