Karnataka police reopen 2012 case against surrendered Maoist as rehabilitation promises remain unfulfilled

The development comes amid reports that Kotehonda Ravindra, one of the surrendered Maoists, has gone on a hunger strike in a Keralam prison despite having fallen ‘seriously ill’.

Published - October 15, 2026 06:01 am IST - Bengaluru

Kotehonda Ravindra, one of the surrendered Maoists. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Karnataka police have reopened a 2012 case in Sakleshpur’s Yeslur against a surrendered Maoist, while preparations are under way to reopen another case in Dakshina Kannada against four others, even as the surrendered Maoists are hoping for an early release from prison.

The development comes amid reports that Kotehonda Ravindra, one of the surrendered Maoists, has gone on a hunger strike in a Keralam prison despite having fallen “seriously ill”. Meanwhile, members of the Naxal Surrender and Rehabilitation Committee allege that the State government is yet to honour its commitments to the Maoists made during their surrender.

A senior police officer said the reopened case pertains to an alleged exchange of gunfire between the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) and the Maoists in 2012 near Sakleshpur. Slain Maoist leader Vikram Gowda and Ravindra have been named as accused in the case.

“The Maoists had visited a village to collect rations from a house when the ANF was conducting a combing operation, leading to an exchange of fire. There were no injuries,” he told The Hindu.

When asked why the case had been reopened now, the officer said that the police had no leads at the time, but the surrender of the Maoists had them reopen it. “Ravindra was taken into our custody for a few days, but he did not reveal anything. However, a witness has identified him,” he told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, Khalandar Koila, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) appointed by the government to handle cases against Maoists, confirmed to The Hindu that another case involving four accused is being reopened in Subramanya, Dakshina Kannada.

“We have only two NIA cases left now after ensuring that many cases have resulted in acquittals. But now, they are reopening cases that had already been closed by submitting a C-report,” he said.

Meanwhile, K.P. Sreepal, a member of the rehabilitation committee set up by the government, alleged that the State government had barely fulfilled the commitments made to the Maoists during their surrender.

“We have got most cases cleared. However, Keralam has filed a heap of cases, which are yet to even go to trial,” he said.

He stressed that one of the key promises made by the government was to ensure that the Maoists were not left to rot in prison.

Mr. Sreepal listed the alleged unfulfilled promises, saying that no fast-track courts had been set up after a court rejected the proposal, citing a technical issue. “No effort was made by the government after that. Although they appointed SPPs, the government did not pay their salaries, which led to the resignation of one of them,” he alleged.

According to the data, about 41 cases are pending in Kundapur, five each in Shivamogga and Sringeri, three in Karkala, and two in Bengaluru. In addition, more than 100 cases are pending in Keralam.

Mr. Sreepal further noted that the government had promised to coordinate with the Keralam government and try to resolve the cases, but no in-person meeting had been held to discuss the matter. “Now, even reaching the officials has become a difficult task,” he said.

Published - October 15, 2026 06:01 am IST

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