Mangaluru: In an effort to make Mangaluru ‘drug-free,’ the CCB Police arrested a man, Shameer PK, near Mulki and seized 738 grams of hydro ganja worth ₹73 lakh, which he was transporting in his car.

The police said on Friday that Shameer is a resident of Kandalad village in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. They have also confiscated his mobile phone as well as the car he was using to transport the narcotics, with the total value of the confiscated items estimated to be more than ₹80 lakh.

The officers stated that Shameer was transporting the narcotics from Goa to be supplied to various places, including Mangaluru and Kerala. The CCB Police intercepted his car near Bappanadu on the outskirts of Mulki town, and upon checking the vehicle, found 738 grams of hydro ganja.

An FIR has been filed at the Mulki Police Station, and further investigation is underway. The CCB Police have stated that a preliminary probe revealed the narcotics were supplied from abroad.

The CCB investigation team was led by ACP Manoj Kumar Nayak and included Inspector Shyamsunder HM, Sub-inspector Sharanappa Bhandari, and other police personnel.

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Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that six surrendered Maoists have not handed over their weapons, and the police are working to locate and recover them from the forest where they are believed to have been disposed of.

Noting that one Maoist, expelled from the surrendered group, is still at large and efforts are underway to trace him, he said there is no one else involved in Naxal activities in the state. He added that any individuals coming from other states will be closely monitored.

A group of six Maoists surrendered to the government in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his home office, ‘Krishna,’ on Wednesday evening.

The group includes four individuals from Karnataka: Mundagaru Latha from Sringeri, Vanajakshi Balehole from Kalasa, Sundari Kutluru from Dakshina Kannada, and Mareppa Aroli from Raichur. The other two are Vasantha K from Vellore in Tamil Nadu and N Jeesha from Wayanad in Kerala.

"We need to search for the weapons. It is not yet known where they were disposed of in the forest, but efforts are underway in that direction," Parameshwara told reporters in response to a question.

Addressing the BJP's allegation that the government prioritised rehabilitation for Maoists over recovering their weapons, he said, "They keep making such claims. The government will do its job. We may need to gather information from the Maoists about where the weapons were hidden and seek their assistance. There are procedures, and they will be followed."

The BJP has also been in government, and they are aware of this. It was the same police department during their tenure, he added.

The six surrendered Maoists will be rehabilitated under categories 'A' and 'B' of the Naxal Surrender Policy, Karnataka 2024, and will each receive Rs 3 lakh.

In response to a question about reports that another Maoist, Ravindra, is still at large, the Home Minister said, "According to the information we have, this group had expelled him, but the reasons are not yet known. Efforts are underway to trace him, and he is believed to be in the Chikkamagaluru region."

Regarding the surrendered Maoists, the Home Minister stated that they were the last active Maoists in the state.

He added, "If anyone comes from other states, it will be closely monitored. There is a possibility of individuals coming from Odisha or Kerala, and we will remain vigilant. The government is making efforts to discourage Naxalism. According to our information, no one else is currently involved in such activities in the state."

The surrender followed the killing of Maoist leader Vikram Gowda in an encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force at Peetabailu village in Hebri, Udupi district, on November 18, 2024.

When asked about Vikram Gowda's family seeking compensation in light of the package being provided to surrendered Maoists, Parameshwara said, "It will be verified. Both cases are different."

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