Naxals 'abduct,' release BJP leader, villagers in K'taka

Udupi, Karnataka, Nov 4 (UNI) A group of naxals, including some women, today abducted a BJP leader and 12 villagers of Hole Mavinakadu in Chikmagalur District, about 100 km from here, but released them safely after giving 'pep talk.' Official sources said a group of seven naxals barged into the house of Ranganath, President of Sringeri Taluk BJP, in the wee hours and threatened him at gunpoint to come to a meeting they had organised in deep jungles.

Later, a dozen villagers went along with the BJP leader into the jungles on the border of Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Udupi borders.

Naxal Leader B J Krishna Murthy told Ranganath the BJP should change its attitude towards naxals and warned if they were troubled in any way, there would be violent retaliation.

The villagers identified Naxal women members as Latha and Prabha in the group.

IGP (Western Range) A M Prasad told UNI the Anti Naxal Force had intensified combing operations in the area and said none of those taken to the forests were harmed before being released.

UNI MA-RS RL NS1654