Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Udupi, Mar 14: Devendra, who was arrested more than eight years ago on suspicions of being a Naxal, was on Wednesday March 14 acquitted in the last of the 24 cases that the police had slapped against him.
Devendra, who was in jail for over eight years and was given bail only about 9 months ago, walked a free man after the Udupi district and sessions court pronounced its judgement. A native of Soraba, Devendra was accompanied by his mother when the verdict was announced.
Devendra was the second accused among five facing several charges relating to naxalism activities including illegal possession of arms and firing at police in an encounter.
On Wednesday, the judgement was pronounced on the case relating to an encounter in 2013 in the house of one Ramappa Poojary in Karkala. On the night of November 16, 2013, the police had received information that five suspected Naxals armed with illegal weapons had arrived at Ramappa's house in Karkala. Early next morning, the police went to Ramappa's house to arrest the suspects. A battle ensued and the suspects allegedly fired at the police, and the police too opened fire. Police personnel and three of the suspects were injured in the incident. Apart from Devendra, the other accused in the case were Saroja alias Parvati, Usha alias Hajima, who were injured, and Vasanth alias Anand. All of them have been acquitted in the case.
The police had slapped 24 cases against Devendra in 8 police stations in Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Shimoga. Among those, 11 cases were registered in Udupi. Over the years, Devendra was acquitted in each of the cases one after the other.
As many as 76 witnesses were examined, including former SP Murugan and former DCIB inspector Ashok.