A 50-year-old man was taken into custody late Tuesday following a months-long investigation. Authorities allege he posed as a Naxal operative to intimidate villagers near the Karnataka-Telangana border in Tumakuru district. The police announced the arrest on Wednesday, highlighting the seriousness of the situation that had caused fear among local residents.
The accused, identified as Kanakalabande Venkatesh, was reportedly found consuming chicken and alcohol in a semi-nude condition after 11pm. Investigators are now checking whether that activity was connected to other incidents in the area. Tumakuru SP K V Ashok said Venkatesh was absconding since February 15, when police began looking for him in connection with the atrocity case. “He had been absconding since February 15 after the police launched a search for him in connection with the atrocity case.
Police said his arrest and the preceding search, which involved over 150 police personnel, tied together probes into three separate cases, including a caste atrocity case arising from a land dispute, the discovery of an alleged country-made bomb placed at a farmer’s pump house and a poster put up in the name of “People’s War Dalam”. We are now verifying his possible involvement in other criminal activities as well,” Ashok said. Police said Venkatesh had allegedly threatened people in Kanakalabande and surrounding villages while claiming an association with Naxal organisations.
