Bengaluru: Six Naxals, who had been engaged in armed rebellion across the forests of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu for over two decades, surrendered before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday evening (January 8).

With this surrender, the end of Naxal insurgency in Karnataka seems imminent.

Following the encounter and killing of Naxal leader Vikram Gowda, the six Naxals had released a video expressing their desire to surrender. These individuals, identified as Latha from Mundagaru in Sringeri taluk, Vanajakshi from Balehole in Kalasa taluk, Sundari from Kuntaluru in Dakshina Kannada, Marappa Aroli and K Vasanth from Raichur, and T. N. Jeesh, had initially planned to surrender before the Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner.

However, in a last-minute decision, they chose to surrender before CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru. On Wednesday evening, the six arrived at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Krishna, and laid down their arms.

The Chief Minister welcomed the surrendered individuals with flowers and handed them copies of the Constitution. He later held a meeting with them to hear their grievances and discuss their demands.