CHIKKAMAGALURU: Two Naxalite couples surrendered before the Chikkamagaluru administration here on Monday in the presence of high-power committee members A K Subbaiah and Gowri Lankesh.
The Naxalite couples who surrendered under the Karnataka government's surrender and rehabilitation policy are Neelguli Padmanabh alias Nemi Achar and his wife Bharathi, and Rizwana Begum alias Kalpana alias Nirmala, and her husband Raju alias Parashurama.
Forty-five-year-old Neelguli Padmanabh, a native of Koppa, was active in Naxalite activities for the last 14 years. He faces 19 charges: nine in Chikkamagaluru, nine in Udupi and one in Shivamogga.
Padmanabha was wounded in an encounter with the police in Barkana in 1999. The gunfight broke out when his was holding a meeting with Naxalite leader Saketh Rajan. He was injured in the leg, which had to be amputated as it had become gangrenous.
His wife Bharathi from Raichur was active in the Malnad region from 2002. No cases are registered against her.
Thirty-three-year-old Rizwana Begum from Raichur was active in Naxal activities since 1999 with two cases registered against her: one in Chikkamagaluru and another in Raichur.
Forty-year-old Raju alias Parashurama took part in anti-social activities since 1999 but was not booked in any case.
Since no cases are booked against Raju and Bharathi, they will be released. But the Sringeri police will take Neelaguli Padmanabh and Rizwana Begum into custody for further investigation.