Vittala Malekudiya to contest gram panchayat elections

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 15, 2015: Vittala Malekudiya, chargesheeted by Dakshina Kannada district police as an alleged naxal sympathiser, is  to contest  gram panchayat elections to be held on May 29. Vittala, a post graduate in journalism, will be contesting from Naravi GP of Belthangady taluk.

Vittala, who has written Karnataka Administration Service (KAS) examination and is awaiting results, has the support of Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti, Belthangady, CPM and its youth wing DYFI.

Muneer Katipalla, state president of DYFI, said that Vittala will submit his nomination papers at Naravi GP on May 16, Saturday. Muneer said that it was unfortunate a post graduate in journalism and an aspirant for KAS has been branded as a Naxalite. We have decided to extend our support to Vittala in the elections. Through this, a befitting message will be sent to government. 

Vittala and his father Lingappa Malekudiya were arrested on March 3, 2012, from their house in Kuthlur in Belthangady taluk and have been charged under Section 10 and 13 (3) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sections 120 and 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code.  The chargesheet was filed before the JMFC court in Belthangady on April 29.

Vittala subsequently appeared for the PG examination in handcuffs at Mangalore University had raised the hackles of CPM leaders with Brinda Karat taking up the matter with then chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda. CPM MP Rajesh from Kerala had raised the issue in Parliament