24 August,2010 07:55 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
Say that they don't have strong evidence to prove if the ailing wife of the top-ranking Naxal leader in the state is dead or alive On August 18, there was a rumour in the state that Prabha was dead and the Naxals had carried the body to an unknown place for cremation.
Three days after reports ofu00a0 alleged Naxal leader Hosagadde Prabha's demise surfaced, the state police are yet to confirm her death.
While the home department called a senior police officer to give a confirmed report on the matter, the embarrassed state police later expressed their inability to do so.
u00a0
Prabha is the wife of the top-ranking Naxal leader in the state BG Krishnamurthy.
Not sure
A police official said, "No one is sure whether she is dead or alive.
We had confirmed reports that she is suffering from a serious illness and had been admitted to St John's hospital for treatment under the name Susheela.
u00a0
We have also got conflicting reports from our sources that she is dead, but there are no records to prove that."
Prabha uses various aliases Netra, Vindhu, Sandhya and Madhu, and hails from Hosagadde village of Thirthahalli, Shimoga.
On August 18, there was a rumor in the state that she was dead and the Naxals themselves had carried the body tou00a0an unknown place for cremation.
But, the officer said that because of a weak intelligence gathering system, the police failed to trace her movements, and eventually could not arrest her.
According to the sources, Prabha was admitted to hospital in the name of Susheela.
However, the ADGP (Law and Order) AR Infant said, "We don't have any strong evidence to prove whether she is dead or alive. Without any proper information, I can't comment on this issue."
About Prabha
Prabha, a Bunt, married Krishnamurthy, after they went underground following their close association with the Naxal leader Saket Rajan, who was gunned down in a police encounter in February 2005.
She has been active as a naxal leader in Western Ghat area for more that 10 years.
She joined 'Mahila Jagruthi' a voluntary organisation, and fought for women's empowerment.
Prabha also took part in various people's movements such as 'Tunga Ulusi' (Save River Tunga) and the Kudremukh agitation by the indigenous Adivasis.
A firebrand, she joined the Red Brigade after she met Saket and Krishnamurthy. The state police already had announced Rs 5 lakh reward for her arrest.
A total of 26 cases were registered against Prabha at Shringeri, Aldur, Balehonnur and Jayapura police stations.
u00a0
She is accused in the Gandaghatta Venkatesh murder, Thanikodu checkpost destruction, vandalising Kerekatte Forest Office and Matholli blast.
