Karnataka: Naxal leader Vikram Gowda killed in a police encounter after 20 years on the run.
Karnataka Police’s Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) killed absconder Naxal leader Vikram Gowda in a late-night encounter in the Kabbinale forest region of the Udupi district. The operation, carried out on Monday night, marked one of the most important successes for law enforcers in their long battle against Naxal activities in the state. Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed the development on Tuesday, saying that Vikram Gowda was shot dead by retaliatory fire as his group was attempting to collect groceries.
One of the Long-Fugitve Naxal Leaders
Vikram Gowda, 44 years old, was from Hebri village in the Udupi district. He was one of the last prominent Naxal leaders from Karnataka who were still active in the underground movement. His notoriety grew after being involved in the Naxal activities in the Western Ghats region, where he once worked as a courier and fund collector before turning into the most prominent figure in the movement.
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The ANF operation was launched at an Naxal group in the Kabbinale forest. An intense gun battle ensued, and Vikram Gowda was reported dead. However, three more succeeded in escaping. Currently, police combing operations are being conducted in the region to catch the rest. The bounties on Gowda’s head were ₹3 lakh from Karnataka and ₹50,000 from Kerala.
The Arising and Falling of Vikram Gowda
Gowda’s life as a Naxal started in 2002, while he was deeply involved in the issue of tribal rights. Having completed only fourth standard, he was eventually promoted within the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist). He led a section of the outfit and managed to stay underground for two decades. Going between Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu and other states, made him difficult for the lawmen to locate.
Sources say that he was one of only eight underground Naxals from Karnataka, of which four were women. His death has left seven Naxals, including some of the most notorious names such as Latha, alias Mundgaru Latha, and Angadi Pradeep.
Is the Naxal movement in Karnataka fading out?
Naxal activities have declined considerably in Karnataka since 2018, with their ranks showing significant declines over the years. Perhaps the most notable phase of the Naxal movement in the state was when clashes were witnessed with the law-enforcing bodies, like when two women Naxalites-Sumathi and Usha- were killed in a major encounter in 2003.
But for months now, there has been anecdotal evidence of revival. In February, Kodagu and Hassan district police reported increased Naxal activities on the Karnataka-Kerala border. There have been reports that Naxals, under the leadership of Gowda, are talking to villagers to gain their people’s support for reigniting their fight for the marginalized.
A Watershed in the Naxal’s Struggle
The killing of Vikram Gowda is the first killing of a Naxal in Karnataka in over two decades and is being seen as a significant victory for the state police. Home Minister Parameshwara talks about the fact that Gowda had evaded capture in several prior encounters and was an elusive guy.
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Vikram Gowda was a dreaded Naxal wanted for 20 years. Despite multiple attempts to capture him, he always managed to escape. His death is a testament to the perseverance of our law enforcement agencies,” said Parameshwara.
Government’s Approach to Rehabilitation
While Karnataka continues its operations to eliminate the remaining Naxals, the government has reiterated its commitment to rehabilitation for those willing to surrender. Parameshwara urged Naxals to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society under the state’s rehabilitation program. Initiated in 2013 by the Congress government, this policy has successfully brought 14 former Naxals into the mainstream.
The state government offers rehabilitation and economic rehabilitation, skill development, and housing support to rehabilitated Naxals. The initiative aims to demolish the movement by forcing people to give up violence and live peaceful lives instead.
Political Reactions to Naxal Resurgence
The resumption of Naxal activities in Karnataka has also thrown up political controversy. In the early months of this year, the state BJP unit targeted the Congress-led government for allowing Naxals to regroup. “Since Siddaramaiah came to power, the disappeared Naxals have returned to Karnataka with the conviction that they can safely operate under the rule of Congress,” alleged BJP through a social media post.
The Congress government continues to systematically eliminate the remaining Naxals while inviting them to surrender and seek rehabilitation.
A Legacy of Violence and Activism
Vikram Gowda’s transformation from a tribal rights activist to the dreaded Naxalite leader not only reveals the political and social complexity of the Naxal movement in India but also that this killing gives the much-needed hope to law enforcers in Karnataka to weaken the existing remnants of the movement. But this remains a question whether the unhealthy foundation of poverty, land rights, and social inequality would ever be dealt with.
As combing operations in Karnataka continue and follow up on the remaining Naxals, Gowda’s death marks a milestone both in counter-insurgency operations and in the need for more work to be done before the region sees lasting peace and development.
This encounter underlines the Karnataka Police’s quest to erase the decades-long shadow of Naxalism from the state. This is a significant step towards securing the Western Ghats and its surrounding regions from insurgent threats.