The Hindu : Karnataka News : ANF, ‘naxalites’ exchange fire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

ANF, ‘naxalites’ exchange fire

Ganesh Prabhu

Police apparently took them by surprise at Kurtagundi

SURPRISE ATTACK: The Anti Naxalite Force (ANF) team inspecting the items left behind by suspected naxalites at Charbathlu in Kurtagundi village of Udupi district on Tuesday.

Kurtagundi (Udupi District): There was an exchange of fire between the Anti-Naxalite Force (ANF) and suspected naxalites at Charbathlu at Kurtagundi in Udupi District on Tuesday.

Kurtagundi village comes under the Amasebail Gram Panchayat and is considered by the police as an area frequented by suspected naxalites.

Acting on a tip-off, the personnel of the ANF and the Udupi District Police appeared to have taken the suspected naxalites by surprise at Charbathlu. After an exchange of fire, naxalities fled the scene.

There have not been any casualties or injuries on either side. But the naxalites have left behind various items such as a gun, 15 bullets, six tents, Maoist literature, three transistors, and cooking utensils behind. Half cooked rice and sliced vegetables, clothes and other belongings of the suspected naxalities could be seen at the spot.

Giving details of the operations at Charbathlu, Superintendent of Police of ANF Subash Gudimani told presspersons that the ANF had started its routine combing operations at 5 a.m..

When the ANF got information that a team of six naxalites, including three women naxalites, were at Charbathlu, additional forces were requisitioned from Kollur, Hebri and Karkala.

\The personnel numbering 48 were divided into four teams.

He said when the ANF team neared Charbathlu, the naxalites became aware of their presence and fired two rounds on ANF personnel, who in retaliation, fired six rounds. The exchange of fire had taken place between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. The naxalites then escaped from the place. It was possible that these six naxalites could be members of the “Varahi” team of naxalites, Mr. Gudimani said.

The in-charge Superintendent of Police of Udupi district, Labhu Ram, said the fleeing naxalities had left behind a gun, 15 bullets, six tents, three transistor sets, Maoist literature, and food items.

The district police had intensified operations after the exchange of fire. It was possible that the naxalites might have escaped to Shimoga district and the police there had been alerted.

Discrepancy

However, there was one discrepancy, which was glaring in the ANF/police version, Deputy Superintendent of Police M.B. Nagaraj, who earlier talked to the presspersons (before Mr. Gudimani and Mr. Ram), said the exchange of fire had taken place at 10.05 a.m.

The team of ANF and the police had fired two rounds at the suspected naxalites. But the later had not returned fire, he said.

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