Senior IPS officer Dr P Ravindranath resigns alleging harassment

News Network
October 30, 2020

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Bengaluru, Oct 30: A senior Indian Police Service officer has resigned from service accusing 'a few individuals' of harassing him indirectly.

Dr P Ravindranath, who is serving as Additional Director General of Police in the Forest Cell, tendered his resignation to the Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar through the Director General of Police Praveen Sood on October 28.

The officer was booked on charges of molestation six years ago, which he said was quashed by the High Court.

Confirming that he had resigned, Ravindranath said: "Yesterday some promotions happened.I should have been promoted as a number-two. Number-one is Amar Kumar Pandey.

I must have been promoted. Instead of me, Suneel Kumar has been promoted," Ravindranath said.

In his resignation letter, Ravindranath stated that he had served the people of Karnataka with utmost devotion but in the last four years he faced "problems created by a few individuals."

"But a few individuals prevented justice for me.

Therefore, having undergone agony of the indirect harassment, I submit my resignation herewith to lead a peaceful life," Ravindranath said.

He asked the Chief Secretary to accept his resignation.

The 1989 batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh had landed in a controversy six years ago when he was accused of allegedly clicking pictures of a woman at a cafe in Bengaluru.

The woman in her complaint to the police had stated that when she and her cousin were at the cafe they saw a man staring at them and clicking pictures.

The next day after the incident, a case of molestation was registered against him under section 354 of the IPC, according to Ravindranath.

He added that a charge sheet in that connection was filed in the court, which was quashed by the High Court.

Further, the CAT not only quashed the Departmental Inquiry initiated against him but also recommended that the matter should be probed by the National Commission for Scheduled Caste four years ago.

However, the government obtained a stay against the order, Ravindranath said.

According to him, the Supreme Court in its order on October 15 stated that any stay granted by any court lapses automatically after six months.

"The stay on the CAT order against which the government had gone to high court automatically lapsed," he said. Attempts to reach the DGP proved futile.

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News Network
November 19,2024

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The Karnataka Police’s Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) achieved a major breakthrough on Monday night by eliminating Vikram Gowda, one of Karnataka’s most wanted Naxal leaders for over two decades. The encounter occurred in the dense Kabbinale forest of Udupi district, marking a significant victory against Naxal insurgency in the region.

Who Was Vikram Gowda?

Hailing from Hebri in Udupi, Vikram Gowda, 44, was a prominent figure in the Naxal movement. He went underground in 2002, initially serving as a courier and fund collector before rising to lead a breakaway Naxal group. Despite having only a fourth-grade education, he was a staunch advocate for tribal rights and a key player in the movement’s survival in Karnataka.

Bounty: ₹3 lakh from Karnataka and ₹50,000 from Kerala.

Legacy: The last major Naxal leader in Karnataka after the 2021 arrest of B G Krishnamurthy.

The Encounter

Police revealed that Gowda and his team visited Kabbinale village to collect groceries on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off, ANF ambushed the group. When the Naxals opened fire, ANF responded, leading to Gowda's death.

Escapees: Three Naxals fled, including prominent members Latha (aka Mundgaru Latha) and Raju.

Significance: This was the first Naxal casualty in Karnataka in over two decades.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed the operation, stating, “Gowda was elusive for 20 years, escaping multiple encounters. His death is a critical step in dismantling Naxal operations in the region.”

The Decline of Naxal Activity in Karnataka

Karnataka's Naxal movement has been dwindling, with members seeking refuge in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The group’s strength had reduced to just 19 members by 2018, but recent sightings indicate attempts at revival:

2023 Activity: Reports of Gowda-led movements in the Kodagu and Hassan districts reignited concerns.

Political Heat: The BJP criticised the Congress government, alleging it created a “safe haven” for Naxals.

A Glimpse into Gowda’s Past

Personal Life: Gowda’s ex-wife, Savitri (alias Rajita), was arrested in 2021. She was a senior Naxal commander involved in insurgency since 2004.
Rehabilitation Efforts: Since 2013, Karnataka’s rehabilitation policy has seen 14 Naxals surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society.

A Milestone in Karnataka’s Fight Against Insurgency

The operation signifies a decisive blow to Naxal resurgence in the Western Ghats. While the ANF continues its search for escapees, the Karnataka government reaffirmed its commitment to offering rehabilitation to those willing to surrender.

As Karnataka celebrates this triumph, the message is clear: there is no room for insurgency in the state.

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