The Hindu : Naxalite killing case takes new turn

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Naxalite killing case takes new turn

By Our Staff Reporter

Kochi Dec. 16. Disproving the official version that the naxalite leader, V. Varghese, was killed in an encounter with the police, the CBI has revealed that he was shot dead by P. Ramachandran Nair, now retired CRPF constable, at the instance of A. Lakshmana, then Dy.SP, and P. Vijayan, then DIG, Northern Range.

The CBI, which conducted an investigation on a High Court directive, today chargesheeted Nair, Lakshmana and Vijayan before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate, S. Vijayakumar. The High Court had ordered registration of a crime on the basis of a counter-affidavit containing confessional statements by Nair in response to a writ petition filed by the Kochi-based Niyamavedi.

The CBI came to the conclusion that Varghese was shot dead by the police after examining 71 witnesses and 44 documents. Relating the whole events, the chargesheet said the probe had revealed that during that period (1970s), Nair was posted as a constable in the 19th battalion of the CRPF at the Vishnu temple, Thirunelli. Varghese was wanted in connection with dacoity and other crimes in the Wayanad area. In fact, the police used to comb the area for apprehending naxalites in the Thirunelli areas. A convoy of the 19th Battalion, headed by Subedar N.V. Peedikayil, was also stationed at Thirunelli. A.K. Achary (now deceased), then SI of the Chokli police station, was attached to the 19th Battalion.

The investigation revealed that on February 18, 1970, Kesavan Moosath of Thirunelli tipped off Peedikayil and Achary about the presence of the naxalite leader in the hut of Sivaraman Nair at Thirunelli. They along with other CRPF personnel, including Nair and another constable, A. Mohammed Haneefa, rushed to the hut, broke open the door and apprehended Varghese.

The CBI investigation further revealed that while the police were bringing Varghese with his hands tied behind his back on to the main road, villagers had identified him. He was taken to the Manandavadi police station in a police jeep by the CRPF personnel.

However, they were stopped at the Kattikulam bridge and ordered by Lakshmana and Vijayan to return to the Thirunelli forest. He was interrogated by Lakshmana and Vijayan inside the forest. Later, they ordered Nair to shot Varghese in the Thirunelli forest in furtherance of their common intention to eliminate Varghese. Subsequently, Nair fired a single shot from his service rifle and shot him dead at 6.55 p.m. on February 18, 1970. Thereafter, Lakshmana on his own registered a crime at the Mananthavadi police station saying Varghese had fired at the police party. It was the then Thalassery RDO, V. Vasudevan Nair, who conducted the inquest. The report of the postmortem conducted by A.N. Lazer of the Mananthavadi Government Hospital on February said the cause of the death was due to an injury to the lungs from a firearm. Nair and Haneefa were promoted as officer Lance Naik on February 18 and rewarded Rs.75 each the same dayThe chargesheet sought issuance of summons to the accused. Lakshmana and Vijayan had retired as IG and DGP respectively.

They have been charged with offence under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.

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