Police Brand Murder Victim Naxalite

Police Brand Murder Victim Naxalite

24 October 2009

Babu (55) and Chandramma (42) realized that their daughter Leelavathi was dead only after a special squad of district police arrested her alleged murderer Mohan alias Anand. Leelavathi is one of Mohan’s 18 victims. 

Leelavathi was reported to be missing in 2004. However, the police branded her a Naxalite and alleged that she had left home to join a Naxalite organization. They even included her photograph in their list of “naxalites” and placed a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her head. 

Prabhavathi (25), the younger sister of Leelavathi, said that she had clearly told the police that her sister had eloped with Anand. She said: “That was the last I heard from my sister.” 

Inspector General of Police (western range) Gopal B Hosur said that the discovery about Leelavathi’s murder does not necessarily mean that she had not dabbled in extremist ideologies. He said that the police had conducted a thorough investigation before branding her as a naxalite. 

Mr. Hosur said: “The possibility that she joined the naxalites cannot be completely ruled out. She may also have come into contact with Mohan Kumar after or while she was still part of the movement. These matters will be thoroughly investigated.”