Some Lankans have joined hands with Maoists in Karnataka

The Karnataka government has come to know that Sri Lankan nationals have joined hands with a small group of Maoists operating in forests of Western Ghats, state Home Minister R Ashok said.

“..We have come to understand that some Sri Lankan nationals, along with a group from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, have joined hands with 25-30 Maoists operating in Chikamagalur, Udupi, Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada,” he said in the Legislative Council. The suspected presence of Sri Lankan nationals in Western Ghats came to light after Anti-Naxal Force seized weapons and other material from Maoists in recent encounters, Ashok said replying to a question by Ashwath Narayana (Cong). Brushing aside the idea of checking naxalism by use of gun, the Minister said the government had taken several initiatives to curb the menace. Conceding that the Maoists were equipped with sophisticated weapons, Ashok said government had strengthened Anti-Naxal Force with modern arms and commandos were trained by a retired army major general who had expertise in jungle warfare. Opposition Leader, Motamma (Cong), said naxalism was a social issue and the government had not done enough to create jobs in remote areas of Chikmagalur, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada to prevent the youth from falling into the trap of Maoists.