Bengaluru, Jan 11 (NationPress) The police force in Karnataka has successfully located a stash of weapons that belonged to Maoists who had previously surrendered in the Meguru forest of Chikkamagaluru district, as confirmed by sources on Saturday.
Authorities seized multiple firearms including an AK-56, several rifles, a revolver, handguns, and live ammunition after conducting an extensive two-day search, according to reports.
The operation was initiated in the Meguru forest area, where the Naxals convened their final meeting prior to their surrender. The police team, led by Inspector Manjunath of Koppa police station, successfully tracked down the hidden weapons.
Reportedly, the cache included one AK-56, three 303 rifles, a single barrel breech loading shotgun (SBBL), a homemade pistol, eleven 7.62 mm AK cartridges, and a total of 176 live bullets, which comprised 133 rounds specifically for the 303 rifles.
A case has been officially registered at the Jayapura police station under Sections 251 (1) (B), 7, and 25 (1A) of the Arms Act.
It is noted that the six Naxals who surrendered before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence did not hand over their weapons. Instead, they symbolically returned their green uniforms to the Chief Minister as a gesture of surrender.
The BJP has raised concerns regarding this issue, criticizing the Congress government for its lack of action in confiscating the weapons from the surrendered Naxals.
BJP MLC C.T. Ravi commented on the situation, stating that those who surrender must provide complete details regarding their arms.
The surrender and rehabilitation package should only be granted after the surrendered Naxals disclose information about their weapons, and critically, the sources from where they acquired them.
Furthermore, the package should be contingent upon their full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Ravi emphasized that the Maoists have a history of violence against policemen, soldiers, and civilians, and must reveal their support networks.
“I believe the surrender of Naxals is a tactic. It needs to be confirmed whether they have fully renounced their ideology and violent actions. The investigation should not be limited to just the six Maoists who have surrendered,” he insisted.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara noted that the surrendered Maoists are thought to have discarded their weapons in the forest and that police are actively searching for them.
Regarding the BJP's allegations, claiming the government lacks the same determination in discovering the weapons as it does in providing rehabilitation for the Maoists, he stated, "We are fulfilling our responsibilities."
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the surrendered Maoists into mainstream society by presenting them with roses and copies of the Indian Constitution at his office, ‘Krishna’, in Bengaluru.
The government has established a compensation package for surrendered weapons, which includes financial incentives such as Rs 30,000 for an AK-47, Rs 50,000 for various rifles, Rs 10,000 for pistols, and Rs 100 for each live bullet, among others.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has firmly stated that the eradication of the Maoist movement is a priority for the Congress-led state government, asserting that all protests must be peaceful and should not resort to violence, which aligns with his government's principles.
CM Siddaramaiah also reassured that actions are underway to recover the firearms possessed by the surrendered Maoists.
