Karnataka police have arrested Kanakalabande Venkatesh, a key accused in a crude bomb blast that rocked the state earlier this year, bringing an end to a extensive manhunt involving more than 150 officers. Venkatesh, who has been described by law enforcement as a "fake" Maoist, had been on the run since the explosion in August and was reportedly living in concealment in the dense forest cover of the Kadamalakunte Hills.
The investigation revealed that Venkatesh was not a genuine ideologue of the Maoist movement but instead operated under the guise of one. Police sources indicated that he may have exploited the militant's reputation to carry out attacks or to blend into local sympathizer networks. The bomb blast, which used homemade explosive material, was part of a series of security concerns in the region.
A large-scale coordinated operation was mounted to track down the fugitive. Over 150 personnel from multiple agencies were deployed across affected areas. Intelligence inputs played a crucial role in narrowing down Venkatesh's location in the hilly terrain of Kadamalakunte, where local forests provide natural cover. Teams conducted systematic searches before pinpointing his hideout.
Venkatesh was taken into custody without major resistance. He now faces charges related to the August bomb blast and is expected to be produced before a court. Investigation agencies are also probing whether he had any links to organized militant groups or acted independently. A forensic team has been examining evidence recovered from the blast site.
Local residents have expressed relief at the arrest, noting that the months-long uncertainty caused anxiety in nearby villages. Police have assured the public that ongoing operations will continue to root out anyone attempting to destabilize the region.
