Witness in Varghese case pleads for justice

The New Indian Express
2 Nov 2010

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who welcomed the CBI Special Court’s verdict against former IG K Lakshmana in the Naxal Varghese murder case by calling it as a victory for law and justice, seems to be unaware that his government has been denying justice to a person who played a key role in solving the four-decade-old case related to police torture.
A Mohammed Haneefa, a former police constable and the lone eyewitness in the Varghese murder case, has been knocking at the doors of power centres over the last many years for getting minimum pension. But his pleas have been repeatedly turned down by the government and the 70-year-old Haneefa is now struggling hard to make both ends meet. Haneefa and his wife are now living at the mercy of their friends and relatives.
Haneefa started his service in the MSP third battalion in 1965 and later joined the CRPF in 1967. During his service in the CRPF, which lasted till 1973, he had served on the border during the 1971 Bangladesh war and had received ‘Bangaldesh Star’ medal. It was during this period that he became part of the operation to trap Naxalites, including Varghese.
‘’Having served in the MSP, CRPF and the SAP for 12 years from 1965 to 1977, I had applied for minimum pension and had called on Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. However, no decision has yet come in my favour,’’ says Haneefa, who is a native of Thiruvananthapuram.
It is learnt that though the Home Minister had given nod to Haneefa’s request it is being held up in the office of the Finance Minister citing reasons of financial burden to the exchequer. Haneefa had left the police service without submitting formal resignation and this was initially cited as an obstacle for granting him pension. But the Home Minister has already cleared this aspect of the issue.
Haneefa was the 21st witness in the Varghese murder case and it was his eyewitness account which became the crucial evidence in cracking the four-decade-old case. The CBI special court had said in its judgment that Haneefa’s statement alone was enough to establish the involvement of Lakshmana in the case.
Haneefa had left the police service in 1977 fearing for his life as he had participated in the operations against Naxalites. He later worked in Gulf countries for a few years. "Now I am struggling to meet my daily needs as well as that of my wife. Hence, I am knocking at the doors of the power centres for a minimum pension,’’ Haneefa says.
Considering the poor health of Haneefa, the CBI court had took his statement in the Varghese murder case by holding the court in his house.