Man posing as Naxal to frighten villagers in Tumakuru held

A 50-year-old man, Kanakalabande Venkatesh, was apprehended on Tuesday following a multi-month investigation into allegations that he was masquerading as a Naxal operative in order to instill fear among villagers situated near the Karnataka-Telangana border in Tumakuru district, according to police sources. Venkatesh was discovered in a semi-naked state, apparently consuming chicken and alcohol after midnight.

The arrest, coupled with a thorough search that engaged more than 150 police officers, connected to probes into three separate incidents, including a caste-related violence case stemming from a land dispute, the discovery of an alleged homemade bomb near a farmer's water pump, and a poster prominently displaying the slogan "People's War Dalam".

Tumakuru Superintendent of Police K V Ashok revealed that Venkatesh had been on the run since February 15, when police initiated a search in connection with the atrocity case. "He had been at large since February 15 after the police initiated a search for him in connection with the atrocity case. We are now examining his potential involvement in additional criminal activities," Ashok stated.

"He is currently facing three charges. The first pertains to an atrocity case where he allegedly intimidated a neighboring farmer over a land dispute. He is also implicated in the planting of a homemade bomb at the farmer's water pump. The third charge involves the pasting of a poster bearing the slogan 'People's War Dalam'," Ashok added.

Police allege that Venkatesh had terrorized residents of Kanakalabande and adjacent villages, claiming ties to Naxal organizations. Authorities are now investigating whether this behavior was linked to other incidents in the region.