HYDERABAD: Mohammed Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem’s death in an ‘encounter’ in August has opened a can of worms for the police and politicians alike in Telangana. Even as reports of the student leader-turned-Naxalite-turned-gangster’s many crimes steady trickle out to the media, few seem to believe that his victims will find justice at the end of the Special Investigation Team’s probe as his reported collusion with senior police officials is considered an open secret in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Evolution of a gangster
Born to a poor family in Bhongir, Nalgonda district, Nayeem started off as a student leader. In time he was drawn to the Naxalite movement and joined the Radical Students Union and then CPI-ML (People’s War) in 1990. Just three years later, as part of a gang of four he allegedly murdered IPS officer K S Vyas, the founder of the anti-Naxalite police unit, Greyhounds. The killing was a sensation, but Nayeem, arrested 10 months later in December 1993, was subsequently acquitted for lack of evidence. Eventually he was expelled by his party. After being released on bail in 2000, Nayeem turned against his former comrades, and allegedly began to work for the police as an informer against the Maoists, even killing several of those who had surrendered. This was part of his evolution into a gangster known for murder and extortion. By the time he was gunned down in August this year, he was an accused in 100 criminal cases, including 20 murders.
A can of worms
Days after his death, the Telangana government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by senior police officer Y Nagi Reddy. The investigation is giving sleepless nights to the powerful, retired or otherwise. Speculation is rife in police and political circles about who may have had links with Nayeem.
Sree Ram Tiwari, a retired IPS officer, who headed the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) from 1997 to 2000 has stated on record that Nayeem would sometimes visit the SIB office in Begumpet to provide information against Maoists.
Political leaders such as TDP leader and former minister Uma Madhava Reddy, MLA R Krishnaiah and former MlA Malreddy Ranga Reddy have accused MLA Machireddy of having teamed up with Nayeem to grab land. Some TRS leaders have also been mentioned in connection with this. Of all these politicians, however, only Krishnaiah has said he knew Nayeem when he was a student leader but lost touch after Nayeem moved towards extremism. But he did speak to Krishnaiah a few years ago after some of the gangster’s victims sought his help. Krishnaiah claimed he warned Nayeem to stay away from illegal activities. Prior to being elected as an MLA, Krishnaiah was a key agitator for backward class rights.
Since his killing, more accusations are being made against Nayeem. A businessman from Bhongir, Gampa Narender, has lodged a police complaint alleging that Nayeem demanded `2 crore from him as ‘mamool’ (protection money). The businessman refused to pay and stated in his complaint that TRS leader Neti Vidyasagar called him and asked him to pay up.
Separating wheat from chaff
Since its formation, SIT has seized hundreds of sale deeds along with crores of rupees in cash in connection with cases against Nayeem. The detectives are also said to have found a 200-page diary in which the slain gangster allegedly penned down valuable information about his activities. The focus of the investigation is on three areas. First, the information in Nayeem’s diary. Second, SIT is pursuing leads from the Call Detail Record (CDR) of phones seized from Nayeemj. Third, the team is looking into complaints lodged by people claiming to be victims of the gangster. According to SIT chief Nagi Reddy, 83 people have been arrested so far in 99 cases in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts.
Credibility of police probe low
Given the gangster’s alleged ties with the establishment, and the suspicious circumstances of his death, few believe that a police-led investigation will lead to justice. Various groups have called for an independent investigation into Nayeem’s crimes. Some of the findings of SIT are also raising questions. For instance, during a raid on Nayeem’s residence in Puppalguda near Hyderabad, SIT seized AK47s and other weapons. However, it has not been explained how he came to possess such weapons. The government has directed police to be transparent.