Udupi, March 8: The Anti-Naxalite Force (ANF) and the police in a joint operation on Friday arrested eight persons allegedly involved in helping naxalites at Kudlu coming under the Hebri police station limits in Udupi district.

Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) A.M. Prasad told The Hindu over telephone from Hebri that the ANF had arrested eight persons at Kudlu. They had recovered a single barrel muscle loader (SBML) gun, 30 detonators, two gelatin sticks, naxalite literature and flags, and a motorcycle, from them.

The eight accused were interrogated at Hebri. During the interrogation, the eight persons had confessed to helping the naxalites by supplying them food and detonators and giving them logistic support. They also allowed the naxalites to use their motorcycle, Mr. Prasad said.

Explaining the events leading to the arrest of the naxalites, he said the ANF and the police were doing their routine combing operations at Kadlu on Friday, when they nabbed one of the naxalite accomplices.

On his information, the other seven accomplices were caught and their hideout raided. The arms and ammunition were recovered from the hideout. There was a possibility of more cache of arms and ammunition being found, Mr. Prasad said.
Identity

The police in Karkala gave the names of the eight accused as Dayananda Gowda, Sudhakara Shetty, Kempe Gowda, Krishnappa Gowda, Kariya Gowda, Ananda Gowda, Satish Shetty, and Suresh Gowda. The gun was recovered from Dayananda Gowda’s house.

The other items such as 30 detonators, gelatin sticks, 20 pamphlets containing naxalite literature, naxalite flags and a motorcycle were recovered from the other naxalite accomplices. The eight accused would be produced before the court by Saturday evening, the sources said.

Hindu