Karkala: Naxals Kanyakumari and Ramesh presented in court

Karkala: Naxal members Kanyakumari and Ramesh (also known as Shivakumar), who are currently under judicial custody at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Jail, were presented before the Karkala court on Monday, September 23, in connection with a kidnapping and murder case.

The two accused were brought to Mangaluru by the Bengaluru police under heavy security and were subsequently presented before the Karkala court. The case pertains to the abduction and murder of Sadashiva Gowda, which took place in Kabbinale, Hebri taluk, on November 19, 2011.

According to the investigation, a Naxal group, including Kanyakumari, allegedly kidnapped Gowda and later shot him dead. The case has been under investigation by a team led by Karkala DSP Aravind N. K, who carried out a detailed inquiry.

Kanyakumari’s Journey into Naxalism

Kanyakumari, also known as Suvarna, hails from a poor family in Jarimane village of Kalasa hobli, Mudigere taluk. She was initially working as a daily wage laborer with her family. Her life changed after her elder sister, Yashoda, got involved in Naxal activities and joined the rebel movement. In the first-ever police encounter against Naxals in Karkala on November 13, 2003, Yashoda was injured by a gunshot. Deeply affected by her sister’s condition, Kanyakumari also embraced the Naxal path.

For five years, she lived a life of struggle in the forests and involved herself in Naxal activities. Eventually, Kanyakumari, who had 32 cases registered against her, was stricken by illness. In 2008, she left the forests of the Western Ghats and moved to Bengaluru, where she married Ramesh alias Shiva Kumar, a fellow Naxalite who had given her refuge.

Who is Ramesh Alias Shivakumar?

Ramesh, originally from Raichur, was influenced by the revolutionary poet Gaddar from Andhra Pradesh. He adopted the name Ramesh and joined the Naxal movement, taking up arms. He lived in Bengaluru’s slums and later organized hostel students to join the farmers’ labour movements at the Andhra border. Many were drawn to Naxalism under his influence. Ramesh has several cases registered against him, both within and outside Karnataka. His first wife, Parvati, died in an encounter with the police, according to police.

Surrender and Ongoing Investigation

In 2017, the government offered Naxals an opportunity to surrender with promises of land, housing, employment, and the dropping of charges against them. Kanyakumari and Ramesh, who had been in hiding for eight years, surrendered before a committee led by A.K. Subbaiah. Since their surrender, they have been under judicial custody, along with their five-year-old child, who also experienced life in jail with them.

Slogans in Court

During the court proceedings, Ramesh raised slogans, declaring that “Naxals are patriots” and shouting “Maoists Zindabad” and “Ae Azadi Jhooti Hai, Desh Ki Janta Bhooki Hai” multiple times.