Malekudiyas support resident questioned by police

Udupi: Members of the Malekudiya community and local residents of Nadpalu in Hebri taluk arrived at Hebri police station on Friday, demanding that Jayanth Gowda, in whose house's verandah Vikram Gowda was shot dead by the ANF, should not be harassed by police in the name of investigation.
On Friday, Hebri police summoned Jayanth Gowda to the station and started questioning him about Vikram Gowda and his team. Meanwhile, members of the Malekudiya community, led by Shridhar Gowda Idu, gathered near the police station, and urged the police that Jayanth Gowda should not be subjected to any investigation. Later, Jayanth was sent back to his home in Peethbail in Nadpal village.
Shridhar Gowda Idu, who is the state president of the Malekudiya Sangha, said that the police took Jayanth to the police station for allegedly not providing information about Naxal movement. "There are several houses in the region, and police will have to take everyone. No case has been registered against Jayanth, and he was released after we gathered near the police station. Jayanth would have been in trouble if we did not rush to the police station. Other than being a member of the same community, Jayanth has no other relation with Vikram Gowda," he said.
Four days after the encounter, the police department on Friday allowed media representatives to visit the house of Jayanth Gowda at Peethbail and the site where the encounter of Vikram Gowda took place on Nov 18. It is reported that forensic teams completed their procedures on Thursday, and the necessary information for the investigation was gathered.
At the spot in Peethbail, where the encounter took place, all three houses of Jayanth Gowda, Sudhakar Gowda, and Narayan Gowda were unoccupied when the media arrived. Further, all roads in Kabbinale, Mudradi, Peethbail, Koodlu, and other villages remained deserted, and only police vehicles could be seen in the area after the encounter.