Cop who claimed to be Naxal killer dies

Kollam, Nov 17 (UNI) Retired police constable P Ramachandran Nair, who recently claimed he had killed Naxalite leader Varghese in 1970, a revelation that put Kerala police in the dock and raised questions on extra-judicial execution, passed away here.

Nair claimed he shot Varghese in the Wayanad forests in 1970 under threat to his own life from higher officials, contradicting police claims that the Naxal was shot dead in an encounter.

He was asthmatic and died yesterday after long years of treatment.

Police had called Varghese's death an encounter. When apprehended by police, he fired a shot at the Superintendent of Police, who returned fire in self-defence, they had said.

According to the constable however, the order to execute the naxal was issued by then Deputy Superintendent of Police K Lekshmana.

The Kerala High Court had at one time ordered a Central Bureau of Police investigation into the alleged custodial murder of Varghese.

UNI XR AA AB BST1310