Court acquits social worker charged with Naxal links

Court acquits social worker charged with Naxal links

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 28, 2011: The district and sessions court of Udupi has acquitted Yashoda, a social worker based in Mavinkere in Kalasa in Chikmagalur who was arrested for involvement with Naxals in 2003.

The local people had arranged a meeting to protest against the proposed Kudremukh National Park in the house of Ramappa Poojary, a poor farmer in Edu, Bollettu, Karkala on Nov 16, 2003. The police, acting on a tip off that it was a Naxal meeting, raided the place at 5:00 a.m., opened fire on Hajima and Parvati, and arrested Yashoda, who was injured. Meanwhile, Vishnu and Anand who were also in the group escaped.

 

 

 

Mr. Ashokan, the then DSP of Udupi, booked Yashoda on 3 counts, alleging involvement with Naxals, illegal possession of arms, and attempt to kill a policeman on duty. Yashoda was released on bail after 3 months and 20 days in judicial custody. N. Shantharam Shetty of Udupi and B. N. Jagadish of Bangalore argued the case in her favor.

Her lawyers argued that she had stood for the Kalasa GP elections in 2002 and had lost, that she had actively opposed the proposed Kudremukh National Park, and that she had attended the meeting in Ramappa Poojary’s house on the day before the encounter with the police, owing to which she was not associated with Naxals. The lawyers also argued that the police had opened fire on unarmed people and that Yashoda could not have attempted to kill any policeman because she was unarmed.

The legal battle was fought for 8 years and 40 witnesses, including former SP Murugan, former DSP Ashokan, Ramappa Poojary, and others deposed.

Narendrakumar Gunaki, the district and sessions judge, ruled on Oct 26 that the prosecution could not prove the charges against the defendant and said that he will give the judgment on Friday.

On Oct 28 Friday the judge acquitted Yashoda, stating that the charges against her were baseless.