Mangalore: ANF constable is a gallantry medal winner

 

Mangalore, 24 Apr 2014 (TOI): Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) constable Naveen G Naik, who has been accused of opening fire on cattle trader Mohammed Kabeer and killing him, is a recipient of the President’s gallantry medal for police personnel.

 

The honour was bestowed on him on the occasion of Independence Day last year for the role he played during the operation in Kakkunje Reserve forest area under Kadaba police station limits in 2012 where a Naxalite, identified as Yellappa alias Dinakar hailing from Mandalagere village in Raichur taluk of Raichur district, was killed.

 

Two others, deputy commandant A H Shankar and constable B D Pradeep were also chosen for the award on the occasion.

 

Naik, 35, hails from Karwar in Uttara Kannada, got married just a month ago and settled at Koppa in Chikmagalur district. ANF personnel, who gave the details about Naik, said the news that Naik was booked under IPC 302 by Sringeri police was demoralizing to the force which was doing its duty under trying conditions.

 

"He hails from a poor family and got his sister married recently," an official said. He rued that several ANF personnel, who were killed in encounters, had not got proper compensation, pointing out at the state government’s bias in doling out Rs 10 lakh even before completion of an inquiry into the circumstances which led to the incident.