Responding to Deccan Herald, a police officer who has played a major role in Venkatesh’s surrender case, on condition of anonymity informed that public are falsely alleging the surrender story of Venkatesh as a drama carried out by the police in order to show their achievement by highlighting ‘compensation strategy’. “People have a wrong notion of Venkatesh. So they believe that Venkatesh was never a Naxal and he is termed so by police for our benefit,” he said.
Declining the rumours, police officer cleared that rumours are far from truth as the police documents since 2004 term Hagaluganchi Venkatesh as a Naxal. “Venkatesh began his work as the Secretary of Karnataka Vimochana Sangha in 1999 and then worked as Secretary of Kuduremukh National Park opposition committee from the year 2000. He had sternly protested against the 12 point handbill issued by the Forest Department. He also played a major role in thrashing Forest Department employees,” informed the police.
Further, briefing the life history of Venkatesh, police officer said that Venkatesh was exposed to Maoism after getting in touch with Mahadevappa and Mahesh. They formed three squads namely Bhadra, Thunga and Nethra. Venkatesh was the regional committee member of Bhadra squad. “Venkatesh himself has agreed that he was the offender in Cheeramma’s case in the year 2002. He had also played a key role in attacking Sringeri tahsildar’s office. Aren’t these evidences sufficient to confirm Venkatesh as a Naxal?” questioned the officer.
Marriage
Venkatesh married Mundodi Radha soon after he was released from jail in the year 2003. Later, he did not wish to reside in the forest and be a part of Naxal activities as he had a family to look after. So he was handed over with the responsibility of looking after ‘Public Revolutionary,’ that was meant to organise people for revolution. All the police records show that he lived among the people from 2003 to 2009, but how can you call one as a non-naxal if he has lived amidst people?, questioned the police officer. “Many a time Venkatesh has tried to spread Naxalism among the public. Naxals had shouldered him the responsibility of exploding the election booth and election officers’ vehicle in 2009 assembly elections. State Internal Security Force and State Investigative Department had the clue of his activities which made them to keep an eye on him. Venkatesh was hiding after the arrest of his fellow mate Najeer. Public have informed the police about his activities with Naxals quite a few times,” said the officer.
Informing about the u-turn in the life of Venkatesh, the officer said that Venkatesh decided to come back to the mainstream owing to the family pressure, police force, support extended from officers and social activists. Social activist Nagesh Angiras, journalist Prabhakar Karanth and Sringeri Tahsildar Yogeshwar requested the police to allow Venkatesh to live a peaceful life. The district administration upheld the request only after a proper deliberation, he clarified.
“It is the duty of police officers to support and let those naxalites who wish to return back to normal life. We expect another 15 naxalites to follow the footsteps of Venkatesh and be a part of mainstream in a near future. Public who used to avoid approaching police stations, are now confident enough to come and talk to the police. A drastic transformation has taken place in the police system and I am sure that Venkatesh will lead a normal life henceforth,” he added.
DH News Service