Gauri and Naxals: Insider reveals surrender details

Journalist Gauri Lankesh went all out to negotiate a truce between the government and those who had taken up armed conflict, Sirimane Nagaraj, a former member of the Naxal movement, has said.

Nagaraj (65) is among those who gave up Naxalism with help from Gauri three years ago.

Gauri was shot dead in Bengaluru on September 5. Police have not announced any breakthrough in the case yet. In an exclusive interview with DH, Nagaraj, a farmer who had joined left-wing radicals, recalls what transpired behind the scenes before he surrendered.

How was Gauri before and after you came back?

She was always the same. Initially, I knew her only from her writings. We got to know her better after some of us came out and surrendered. She was for democracy, love, equality and harmony. We took part in many protests with her.
When did you first meet her?

In 2014. After the BJP lost and the Congress government came to power, Siddaramaiah and the home minister called upon Naxals to return to the mainstream. Thanks to Shantigaagi Nagarikara Vedike (Citizens' Forum for Peace), which included many stalwarts of the state, we made the transition.

So were they wary of you?

The committee was concerned and didn't take us at face value. They wanted to understand whether our desire to return was sincere. What if we again went back with a battalion? They held a secret meeting and confirmed the genuineness of our intentions and then informed the government.

What role did the committee play?

IT made sure we were treated with respect after our return. It is common for the police to keep an eye on us and harass us because on our background. Fortunately, we didn't face such problems. However, when we protested for the cause of tribals in Kodagu’s Diddahalli, we were under surveillance for some time.

Who can replace Gauri in the committee?

(Freedom fighter) H S Doreswamy, (political leader) A K Subbaiah, and (writer) Devanooru Mahadeva are all still part of the committee. But with the death of Gauri, the committee has lost its most active member. Work like this calls for a lot of running around, and she was the one doing it. She was daring enough to face any challenge. At the moment, I can't think of anyone who can take her place.

Was Gauri a Naxal sympathiser?

Never. She saw it as a socio-economic problem. She supported the cause, like democrats everywhere do, but condemned their methods. She wanted peace and harmony. When she had strongly opposed Naxalism, how could she be called a Naxal sympathiser? It’s sheer political vendetta from the right wing.

Why she was targeted?

This was not the first time. She was also attacked at the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Shivamogga. She was regularly targeted on social media. We have seen several posts justifying her murder.

What are your suspicions?

It’s strange to blame Naxals for Gauri’s murder. Whoever is doing that wants to distract the investigation. It’s common sense. Who could have killed Gauri? Obviously people who hated her and saw her as a big enemy. Who hated her? The whole country knows.

What do you want the government to do?

Investigate without bias. Whoever it is, the culprit should be severely punished. They should not just bring the killers to justice, and also expose those behind the killers. The murder apparatus, which has claimed four lives, should be dismantled.