The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police shoot off letter to Government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police shoot off letter to Government

By Vikram Sharma

HYDERABAD, AUG. 29. The Police Department, which is still reeling under the rude shock of Mujeeb Ahmed, an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent allegedly owing allegiance to the terrorist outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, walking away to freedom, has shot off a letter to the State Government stating that the State Intelligence wing and the CID should have a say in the release of such prisoners.

Mujeeb, the first module of the dreaded ISI to enter Andhra Pradesh, who had shot down a police officer of the rank of the Additional SP, was let off by the State Government on Independence Day this year along with 1,050 prisoners who were released from various jails.

Government informed

He and his two brothers, one of whom was killed, were involved in the killing of Additional SP Krishna Prasad and another policeman on November 29, 1992.

The whereabouts of one of Mujeeb's brother still remains a mystery.

"The damage has been done. The Intelligence and CID should be consulted before releasing such persons, who are involved in anti-national activities. A letter has been written in this regard to the Government to avoid such incidents in future," a police official disclosed.

After guidelines were issued on the release of prisoners in 1997 by the TDP Government, a committee whose role would be only to scrutinise whether the prisoner fulfilled the guidelines for release, was formed.

The committee comprises Principal Secretary (Prisons), Director General, Prisons, Additional Director General, Law and Order, Law Secretary and the legal advisor to the State Government.

Pressure from party

Though the release of prisoners including that of Mujeeb's was as per the guidelines, sources said that a political party had reportedly requested the Government to consider his release as he had already completed 10 years in prison, including three years remission.

The Director General of Police, S.R.Sukumara, told The Hindu that lacunae in Mujeeb's release lay in his conviction.

"Though he was charged with conspiracy and Arms Act, he was only convicted for murder, that is Section 302 of IPC," he says. Making no bones about his displeasure over Mjueeb's release, he said there was no specific mention about the release of militants in the Government order.

When approached for a copy of the 197 GO, the Director General, Prisons, M.A.Basith, refused to provide a copy stating that he was not the authority to give such documents.

When told that a GO was a public document, he said "I cannot give you the copy, you get it from the Government.

" He refused to divulge any detail on Mujeeb's release. When told that a constable who shot dead an ACP in Hyderabad around the same time, was still behind bars, he said, "He is in jail. We are also reviewing 40 more cases. He has not fulfilled the guidelines for release."

Efforts futile

Efforts to get a copy of the GO from the Home department in Secretariat proved futile. Officials in the Home department insisted that the person concerned was on leave.

Terming it as a rude shock for the entire department, another senior police officer talked about the American system of law wherein those convicted of serious offences were imprisoned for 200 to 300 years.

"Even if their sentence is cut short by 15 to 20 years, they remain in prison."

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