The Hindu : Probe panel gives clean chit to police

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Probe panel gives clean chit to police

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad July 22. The Commission of Inquiry into the murder of Edanna, husband of Hussain Bee, in June 1998, held that the murder was committed by Mohammed Khaja Aleemuddin and Mohammed Abdul Nayeem Saudagar in order to take revenge for Edanna's misbehaviour with their sister, and that Police had nothing to do with the murder, as alleged by Hussain Bee and other civil rights organisations.

The report of B.V. Ranga Raju, a retired Judge, was placed in the Assembly today.

In her affadavit, Ratnamala, Convenor, Struggle Committee against Police atrocities against women, alleged that she had knowledge about the threat to life of Edanna, and that they have represented to the Government to give protection to them. Hussain Bee and her husband, Edanna, former naxalites, surrendered before the Chief Minister in November 1996, and they opened a xerox centre and stationary shop with Rs. 2,20,000 given to them by the Government for rehabilitation.

Edanna, Hussain Bee and others came to Nampalli to have food at a hotel there, and after then, Edanna disappeared, saying that he would go to answer a call of nature. Hussain Bee alleged that the Police had kidnapped her husband, and two days later, a headless body was found in Padmanarao Nagar, identified as that of Edanna. The Committee also alleged that the murder was committed by the Mahbubnagar police.

Saleema Begum said her younger brother, Mohammed Nayeemuddin, is an undertrial prisoner in Musheerabad jail, that Edanna and his wife Hussain Bee, came to her house to inform her that Sakamuri Appa Rao, a naxalite undertrial prisoner, sent them and that they would obtain a job for her. Ms. Saleema further deposed that Edanna then came to her house when her husband was not there and misbehaved with her. She then informed her brother Nayeemuddin who asked her to inform Appa Rao. Appa Rao assured her that Edanna would be admonished, and she should excuse him. Her two brothers later confessed to having murdered Edanna to take revenge.

The Judge said: "Before I part with the matter, I must express my considered opinion regarding unnecessary hue and cry raised before the Government. It may be that the person who met with an unnatural death has once belonged to an extremist organisation, and authority is always accused of the death of such person. There may be several enemies to persons who indulge in unlawful activities.

``No unnecessary publicity should have been given by the other agencies unless they have some material to support the allegations. The newspapers which indirectly influence public opinion should also play a cautious role in not giving unnecessary importance for the allegations made by the family of the victim. It is needless to state that if unnecessary publicity is given, the public would generally be swayed by such publications and some restraint should be exercised by the persons who report the events.''

In his action taken report, the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said that the Commissioner, Information department, had issued instructions to news agencies requesting to avoid such publicity in future.

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