Police release list of wanted 26 CPI(Maoists)

Bangalore, June 20 (UNI) With Naxal activities increasing in the hilly districts of Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Udupi, the Karnataka police have released a list of 26 CPI (Maoists) to seek information from the public about their whereabouts.

Additional Director General of Police Shankar Bidiri told newspersons here today that the list, prepared on the basis of intelligence reports, evidences and their involvement in insurgent activities, had photos of 19 armed naxalites.

''We launched this programme to create awareness among the people in the affected areas and advise them to desist from helping the outlaws. We will continue with the offensive actions against the naxalites and you will see better results soon,'' he said.

Police were distributing a booklet containing details of the naxalites and had pasted posters with photos in the naxal affected areas.

However, reports said some important names were missing in the released list. It did not have the name of S Nagaraja, one of the main leaders of CPI (Maoists) in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government, which promised a ban on arrack from July one, would provide additional personnel to the police force to check illegal arrack production.

''We will crackdown on manufacture of illicit liquor, once the ban comes into effect,'' he added.

UNI