APCLC alleges nexus between police, Purushotham killers

By Our Staff ReporterHYDERABAD, NOV. 28. The Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) on Tuesday ridiculed the police claim of arresting four persons in the killing of the civil liberties activist, T. Purushotham, saying the quartet, headed by surrendered naxal Nayeemuddin, were in fact in cahoots with the police.

Speaking to presspersons here, the APCLC president, Ms. Ratnamala, said the police effected the arrest of the killers only due to pressure from civil rights groups. The four who had parted ways with the People's War Group (PWG) were reported to be in contact with police officials before Purushotham was killed, she alleged.

Responding to the City Police Commissioner, Mr. S. R. Sukumara's statement on prosecuting the APCLC for blaming the police in the killing, Ms. Ratnamala said they were ready to face it. ``Thankfully, they (police) are speaking of judiciary now. That's what we had been demanding all these days - follow the law of the land and do not indulge in killings and harassment of people,'' she said.

The former APCLC president, Mr. M. T. Khan, said the police version of catching the killers with weapons used in the killing, while they were planning an escape to Bangalore was riddled with glitches. ``Common sense suggests that weapons are thrown away once a crime is committed. Were these killers so fond of the weapons that they were carrying the same as mementoes?'' he questioned.

Senior APCLC leader, Prof. G. Haragopal, advised the police to desist from using persons who had quit organisations or movements for ulterior motives. ``Let them (surrendered naxals) lead their lives the way they want and do not make them part of a mafia. Even the organisations from which these people have walked out should not hold any grudge against them,'' he said.

Jyothi, widow of Purushotham, who was present at the press meet, accused the police of using surrendered naxals for 'overt operations.' If anybody feared for their life from her husband, they could have approached the police with a complaint, she pointed out.

The APCLC leaders said that their State conference at Anantapur would be held as per schedule on December 9 and 10. Prominent human rights, civil and democratic rights activists including the general secretary, All India Federation for Democratic Rights, Mr. Rajni Desai, retired Mumbai High Court judge, Justice Dawood and journalist, Mr. A. B. K. Prasad were expected to attend.

Meanwhile, the Viplava Rachayatala Sangham (Virasam) in a statement claimed the poet, Mr. P. Varavara Rao, had received several anonymous threat calls on Monday. The callers who used abusive language warned that Mr. Varavara Rao would also meet the same fate as that of Purushotham, it said. The statement signed by the Virasam president, Mr. C.S.R.Prasad, and others also refuted the charges made by Nayeemuddin and Sammi Reddy that Virasam was an outfit of the PWG. ``It is untrue to say that,''they said.

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