Karnataka 'naxal free' with last surrender on Feb 1: Police
Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), Feb 1 (PTI): Another naxalite surrendered before the police in Chikkamagaluru district on Saturday, marking a significant step towards the state becoming naxal-free.
“With this surrender, Karnataka is now Naxal-free,” Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikram Amathe told PTI.
Kotehonda Ravindra (44), a resident of Kotehonda in Hulagaru Bail near Kigga, Sringeri Taluk, has been living in the forests. On Friday, he arrived from Sringeri and surrendered before SP Amathe.
He was then taken to Deputy Commissioner Meena Nagaraj, where the formal surrender process was completed.
Amathe said, “Ravindra is classified as an 'A' category Naxal as per the new Surrender Policy that came into effect on March 14, 2024. Under the surrender package, he will receive Rs 7.5 lakh from the government. If he wants to, he will be provided skill training as well and will be given a monthly package of Rs 5,000.”
According to police, a total of 27 cases are registered against Ravindra, including the 13 cases in Chikkamagaluru.
Others present during the surrender include Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer H S Keerthana, Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Committee member K P Shripal.
Amathe also said so far, 21 Naxals have surrendered in Karnataka. Ravindra was involved in Naxal activities in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu and had remained underground since 2007.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
