BANGALORE: Almost a-year-and-a-half after rumours spread regarding the death of front-line Naxal leader of the state Hosagadde Prabha the police have finally got some update on the incident. If informants are to be believed, Prabha is no more as her Naxal comrades have already started singing songs on her.
According to sources in the state Anti Naxal Force (ANF), they have received intelligence from their sources in the western ghats, which is considered the hot spot for Naxal operations in the state, that the red brigade is remembering their leader Prabha through songs. “Some of the informants have provided credible information that her followers have penned songs on her supreme sacrifice for Naxal movement.” Sources also claimed that they have seen the Naxals singing songs amidst the woods.
“It is evident that Naxals frame songs on their leaders who have passed away. Moreover, there is no information about the activities of Prabha since August 2010. Hence, we are strongly suspecting that Prabha is dead due to health problems,” the source added.
When Express contacted Inspector General of Police of the ANF, Alok Kumar, he admitted that the ANF had received such information. “However, we can’t jump to conclusions as there is no evidence. Even her family members are not aware of her whereabouts. So we are working on various angles to confirm her death,” Kumar said adding that the `5 lakh cash reward that the state police had announced on her was still in effect.
Earlier in August 2010, there were rumours that Prabha was admitted to a city-based private hospital due to asthma, dengue fever and other health problems and had passed away on August 18. But, the intelligence gathering system had failed to trace her movement or to confirm her death.
Prabha has been an active Naxal leader in the Western Ghats area for more than 10 years. There are about 26 cases registered against her at Sringeri, Aldur, Balehonnur and Jayapura police stations.