Mangaluru: A battle that has spanned three decades, one which began as a fight against the injustice faced by indigenous tribes in the Kudremukh National Park, has come to an end. The struggle, which has been marked by numerous bloody chapters, concluded today with the surrender of six Naxal leaders. This marks the end of gunfire echoing through the Western Ghats, and from now on, silence will prevail in these forests.

Who are the Surrendered Naxals? What is their Background?

Latha Mundagaru
Latha Mundagaru, a native of Shringarí taluk, comes from a poor Adivasi family. Due to poverty and harassment from schoolteachers, she dropped out after 6th grade. At 18, in 2000, she took to the forest and became a Naxal leader fighting for the rights of Adivasis, armed with a gun. The threat of losing their homes due to the Kudremukh National Park project pushed her into armed struggle, as peaceful movements had failed. For the past 25 years, Latha Mundagaru was listed as one of the most wanted Naxals in Karnataka and Kerala. After the death of Vikram Gowda in November, she became one of the prominent leaders in the Naxal movement.

Sundari Kuttloor
Sundari, like Latha, comes from an Adivasi background. Her family also faced the risk of losing everything due to the Kudremukh National Park project. Unable to see any success in peaceful movements, Sundari, at 19, joined the Naxal struggle in 2004. For over 20 years, she was involved in Naxal activities and was listed as a most-wanted individual. Sundari recalls the police attacks and the violence faced by her community, memories that still haunt her. Now, Sundari wants to transition from armed struggle to participating in democratic movements.

Vanjakshi
Vanjakshi is the eldest member of this Naxal group and had completed her schooling up to SSLC. After stopping her education in 1985, Vanjakshi actively participated in public life, becoming a Gram Panchayat member in 1992 and 1997. Despite political activity, she and her family were unable to hold onto their land due to the oppression of the powerful. In the 2000s, she joined the Maoist movement, and over the years, has been a part of both Karnataka and Kerala. Now, Vanjakshi is ready to pursue peaceful democratic movements while continuing her social activism.

Jayanna Aroli
Jayanna Aroli, from Aroli village in Raichur district, was a Dalit youth who became involved in the Maoist movement after being influenced by the ongoing struggles in the region. The encounter killing of Bhaskar deeply shocked him and fueled his decision to join the Naxals at the age of 24 in 2000. Jayanna has been actively involved in the movement across Karnataka and Kerala. After returning to the armed struggle in 2018, he has now decided to join the democratic mainstream and continue his fight for the people.

Vasanth Arkat
Vasanth, a B-Tech graduate from Vellore in Tamil Nadu, was drawn to social issues and activism from an early age. After completing his degree in 2010, he immediately joined the armed Naxal movement and has since been part of the groups operating in Karnataka and Kerala. Vasanth, known for his strategic thinking, is now seeking to shift his focus from armed resistance to engaging in mainstream democratic activism.

Jish
Jish, the youngest among the surrendered Naxals, is from the Adivasi community in Kerala’s Wayanad district. She completed her education up to 8th grade before joining the armed struggle in 2018. In 2023, she moved with other members from Kerala to Karnataka.

These six Naxals have now surrendered to the district authorities in Chikkamagaluru. This marks the end of the gun battle that had long been ongoing in the forests of the Western Ghats. The surrender brings relief not only to the Naxals but also to the state governments of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, who had been dealing with the disturbances caused by the Naxal activities. Now, these leaders are determined to re-enter mainstream society and continue their activism in a non-violent manner.