Mangalore : After the 8 years of legal battle, the district and sessions court of Mangalore exonerated social worker Yashoda of Mavinkere in Kalasa who was arrested for having connection with Naxals in 2003.

I is recalled that, on Nov 16, 2003, the local people had organized a meeting at Ramappa Poojary’s house, who is a poor farmer in Edu, Bollettu, Karkala to protest against the proposed Kudremukh National Park. The police officials, who got the information of having a Naxal meeting, raided the venue at 5:00 a.m. after firing on Hajima and Parvati, and arrested injured Yashoda. Meanwhile, Vishnu and Anand present in the group had managed to escape.

Former DSP of Udupi Ashokan, charged 3 counts on Yashoda such as involvement with Naxals, illegal possession of arms, and attempt to kill a police personnel on duty.

After being kept in judicial custody for 3 months and 20 days, Yashoda was released on bail, when N. Shantharam Shetty of Udupi and B. N. Jagadish of Bangalore fought the case in her favor.

In her favour the lawyers argued that Yashoda was the defeated candidate in the Kalasa GP elections of 2002 and her active participation in opposing the proposed Kudremukh National Park, had made her attend the meeting at Ramappa Poojary’s house.

They also said that, the meeting was held just a day before the encounter with the police and she was not associated with Naxals. It was also said that the police had fired on unarmed people and that Yashoda too was unarmed and there was no chance of her attempt to kill any policeman.
 
The legal battle was fought for 8 years and 40 witnesses. Narendrakumar Gunaki, the district and sessions judge had postponed the judgement on October 28, Friday and finally acquitted her stating to have baseless charges against her.