BANGALORE: One of the most wanted Maoist leaders in South India, Vikram Gowda, was killed by Karnataka Police in an encounter in the Kabbinale forest region of Udupi district. The news was confirmed by Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday.
Parameshwara said, "Our police forces encountered notorious Maoist leader Vikram Gowda on Monday evening. After being spotted by the police, Gowda opened fire at them. The police returned fire and killed him."
While Gowda was killed, three of his associates managed to escape during the encounter. Authorities have continued their combing operations in the area to track them down, Parameshwara added.
The police had been monitoring Vikram Gowda's movements closely. They received credible information about his location, which led to the operation, he explained.
"We believed the Maoist activity had ended in the state. However, last week, we detected the movements of Maoist leaders Raju and Latha. After this, we conducted a combing operation for over a week," Parameshwara said.
Based on new intelligence, the police launched the operation to capture Vikram Gowda. "The Gowda group had attacked the police forces, and we had no option but to shoot him down," Parameshwara said.
The Home Minister also mentioned that the state government had made efforts to integrate Maoists into society, especially in the Pavagada region of Tumakuru district, through dialogue. "These efforts are still ongoing. We are open to welcoming Maoists who wish to surrender and lead normal lives. However, such encounters can happen when they attempt to escape in forested areas," he added.
Vikram Gowda had been on the run for the last 20 years. Despite multiple attempts to catch him, he managed to evade capture until now. His death marks the end of a long pursuit by Karnataka Police, said the Home Minister.
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