Udupi: Of the 68 cases registered in connection with Naxal activities that surfaced in the district in 2003, as many as 39 cases are currently under judicial trial, while 28 cases have already been disposed of, Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said on Monday. One case is pending due to the filing of an additional chargesheet, he added.

Providing details on the status of the cases, the SP said that additional documentation is yet to be submitted in cases against three accused. One case continues to be under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He noted that sustained efforts by the police and prosecution have ensured steady progress in several long-pending cases.

Accused produced before courts

Over the past six months, 11 Naxal accused have been produced before various courts in connection with the 39 cases that are currently under trial. SP Hariram Shankar said that charges have been framed in all these cases and the trials are actively in progress.

He emphasised that the police department is committed to pursuing these cases to their logical conclusion, despite the challenges posed by the age of the cases and the complexity involved in gathering and verifying documentary and oral evidence.

Status of key accused persons

Giving a detailed account of individual accused, the SP said M Vanajakshi, also known as Jyothi or Kalpana (58), a resident of Kalasa, is presently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison. Charges have been framed against her in six cases.

B G Krishnamurthy alias Vijay (46) of Sringeri is currently lodged in the Viyyur High Security Prison at Thrissur in Kerala. He faces charges in seven cases. Similarly, Savitri J L alias Usha (33), also from Kalasa, is lodged in the women’s prison at Thrissur, with charges framed in two cases.

Padmanabha of Neelaguli in Koppal district, who is presently out on bail, is facing charges in two cases. Tombattu Lakshmi (39) of Machattu village in Kundapur taluk is also out on bail and has charges framed in three cases against her.

Several accused lodged in central prisons

Latha alias Mundagaru Latha (45) of Sringeri is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison. She faces charges in as many as 12 cases. Mahesh alias Madhava (49) of Manvi in Raichur district is lodged in the Viyyur High Security Prison at Thrissur, with charges framed in eight cases.

Kanyakumari of Kalasa is also lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison and faces charges in 10 cases. Suresh alias Mahesh (50) is lodged in Kannur Central Prison in Kerala, with charges framed in 23 cases, making him one of the accused facing the highest number of cases.

Sundari alias Geetha of Kuthloor in Belthangady taluk is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru Central Prison. Charges have been framed against her in nine cases.

One accused staying in old age home

Providing details of another accused, the SP said Prabha alias Hosagadde Prabha of Agumbe is presently staying at Sai Old Age Home in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Charges have been framed against her in six cases.

He clarified that appropriate legal procedures are being followed in her case as well, and her current place of stay has been duly recorded with the court.

Police focus on expediting trials

The SP stated that the police are coordinating closely with the prosecution and judicial authorities to ensure that the trials proceed without unnecessary delays. He said the production of accused from prisons in different states requires coordination across jurisdictions, which has been carried out effectively over the past few months.

He added that the disposal of 28 cases so far reflects the sustained efforts of the police and legal teams, and similar progress is expected in the remaining cases as trials advance.

Conclusion

The update on Naxal-related cases highlights the continued legal follow-up of incidents that surfaced more than two decades ago. With charges framed and trials underway in 39 cases, the district police aim to bring closure to long-pending matters while ensuring due process of law. Officials reiterated their commitment to pursuing all cases diligently until final adjudication.