Siddaramaiah Expresses Hope for Maoist Surrender Following Heartfelt Appeal

Bengaluru, Jan 7 (NationPress) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed on Monday in Bengaluru his optimism regarding a potential change of heart among the Maoists who may choose to surrender following his appeal.

In response to inquiries about the government's readiness to accept the surrender of the Naxals, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked, "I have urged the Naxals to surrender, and there is a possibility of their surrender through a change of heart."

"The initiative to reintegrate them into society is in progress," Siddaramaiah noted.

Notably, several most wanted Maoists operating within the dense forests of the Western Ghats, as well as the hilly and coastal areas of Karnataka, have shown a willingness to abandon their arms and rejoin society, responding positively to the appeal from the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Congress government.

As per sources, this decision by the Maoists came in the wake of the encounter with Vikram Gowda and the ongoing combing operations conducted by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) and the Karnataka Police in the Western Ghats.

Reports indicate that key figures such as Mundagaru Latha, leader of the Tunga Naxal Wing in the state; Sundari, Vanajakshi, and Jeesha, prominent Maoists in southern India; along with K. Vasantha from Andhra Pradesh and Mareppa Aroli, have resolved to surrender and disarm.

The brother of Maoist leader Sundari, Anand, who had also been a Naxal but returned to mainstream society, stated, "If she opts to lay down her arms, they will welcome her back home. It has been 17 years since she left, and we would be thrilled to have her return to us."

"Sundari, please surrender to the government and come back home," he appealed in Kutlur of Mangaluru district.

Sources confirmed that the surrender process is expected to unfold within the next two to three days.

Additionally, it was revealed that the Maoists had sent a letter to the Citizen’s Forum, a progressive organization, and discussions have already taken place with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister welcomed the proposal and authorized the authorities to initiate the surrender procedures.

The Maoists have emphasized that the surrender process should be conducted with dignity, ensuring that their self-respect is maintained. They have also insisted on being allowed to exercise their rights under a democratic framework.

The Maoists further requested that they should not face imprisonment and that any 'false' cases against them be dismissed. They seek cooperation for obtaining bail post-surrender and demand that all cases be consolidated in one court for expedited trials.

Financial assistance from the government has also been requested to aid in reshaping their lives, with similar support sought for other surrendered Maoists currently incarcerated. They have also inquired whether Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will adopt a unified stance on this issue.

Furthermore, the Maoists have called for a judicial investigation into the encounter involving Vikram Gowda.