India, Feb. 2 -- In a major breakthrough, Karnataka has been declared Naxal-free following the surrender of a Naxalite in Chikkamagaluru district. Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikram Amathe confirmed the development, stating, "With this surrender, Karnataka is now Naxal-free."

Kotehonda Ravindra (44), a resident of Kotehonda in Hulagaru Bail near Kigga, Sringeri Taluk, had been living in the forests for years. On Friday, he arrived in Sringeri and voluntarily surrendered before SP Amathe. Following this, he was taken to Deputy Commissioner Meena Nagaraj, where the formal surrender procedures were completed.

As per SP Amathe, Ravindra is classified as an 'A' category Naxalite under the updated Surrender Policy, which came into effect on...