Belthangady: Three years after having completed the arrest procedures, Venoor police on Wednesday, April 29, filed a charge-sheet against seven persons for Naxal activities. Police have named Vikram Gowda as the first accused, Pradeep the second accused, John, third accused, Prabha, fourth accused, Sundari, fifth accused and Vittal and Lingappa as the sixth and the seventh accused respectively.

Sources say that on January 12, 2015, the police submitted a written plea to the government seeking permission to file charge-sheet against them. On January 23, the district Superintendent of Police got a reply from the government according to which the police submitted a charge-sheet against seven persons to the court. The court in turn issued warrant against five and summons against two informing that they be present in the court on January 29.

What is surprising is the charge sheet against a Manglauru University alumnus Vittal Malekudiya and his father Lingappa Malekudiya. Residents of Anila Mane at Kutlooru near Naravi Ninganna aka Lingappa (58) and his sons Vittal (24) and Purushottham (23) were arrested on March 2, 2012 an were released in a few months after intense protests by leftwing outfits and various organizations.Following the protests, the then BJP government in the state had promised the delegation led by CPI(M) that no charge-sheet will be filed against them, and that is why this development is surprising.

The reason for their arrest according to sources was that the naxals were provided food and shelter by vittal and his father Lingappa, at their house.They were booked under charges of waging a war against the Indian state, helping the naxals and various other sections.
  
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has severely condemned the government’s move to charge sheet them, despite an assurance to the contrary. They alleged that Siddaramaiah has been bringing the ‘real’ naxals to mainstream by announcing packages while innocent ones are being tried under law.