- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: Karnataka police have successfully identified a stash of weapons belonging to surrendered Maoists in the Meguru forest of Chikkamagaluru district. Following a two-day search, law enforcement recovered several firearms, including an AK-56, multiple rifles, revolvers, pistols, and live ammunition.
The operation was led by Koppa police station inspector Manjunath in the area where the Naxals held their last meeting before surrendering. The seized items include one AK-56, three .303 rifles, a single barrel breach-loading shotgun, a homemade pistol, eleven rounds of 7.62 mm AK ammunition, and a total of 176 live bullets, which consist of 133 .303 rifle rounds.
A case has been registered at Jayapura police station under various sections of the Arms Act.
The six Naxals who surrendered at the official residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did so without handing over their weapons, giving only their green uniforms to symbolize their surrender. This has prompted criticism from the BJP, which has accused the Congress government of neglecting the issue of weapon confiscation.
BJP Member of the Legislative Council C.T. Ravi stated that individuals who surrender should fully disclose details about their weapons. He emphasized that the rehabilitation package should only be granted after complete cooperation in providing information about the weapons and their sources.
Ravi highlighted the dangerous history of the Maoists, who have killed police officers, soldiers, and civilians, urging for a thorough investigation beyond the initial six defectors to ascertain whether they have genuinely renounced violence and their ideology.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara explained that the authorities believe the surrendered Maoists discarded their firearms in the forest and that efforts are in progress to retrieve them. Responding to the BJP’s claims regarding the government’s commitment to finding the weapons versus its dedication to rehabilitation, he affirmed, “We are doing our job.”
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah warmly welcomed the surrendered Maoists into society by presenting them with roses and copies of the Indian Constitution. The state government has established a rehabilitation package for surrendered Maoists, offering various amounts for different types of weapons, including Rs 30,000 for an AK-47 and Rs 100 per live bullet.
Siddaramaiah reiterated that the main goal of the Congress-led government is to eliminate the Maoist threat, promoting peaceful protests and denouncing violence while assuring measures are being implemented to seize the firearms of the surrendered Maoists.
