Gangster Nayeem got Rs 25 lakh for Naxal info

Hyderabad: Gangster Nayeem bagged the maximum cash rewards from the police for the heads of Naxal leaders. After his arrest on February 12, 1993 in connection with the murder of IPS officer N.S. Vyas’, he became an informer for the police and was released in May 2000 on bail. After his second arrest in connection with APCLC member K. Purushotham’s murder, he was used by the police for eliminating top Naxals or nabbing them alive.

During 2000-09, Nayeem played a key role in nabbing and killing Naxals. He used to target those who had high rewards on their heads. An official source said he used to get rewards from Greyhounds and SIB for passing information about top Naxals.

 “At one stage he was totally dependent on rewards for his bread and butter. He had bagged around Rs 25 lakh from united AP police and around the same from Karnataka, Odisha and Maharashtra. He gave key information for eliminating Naxals in Karnataka,” the official said.

“To gather more info from surrendered Naxals, police used to encourage Nayeem by giving him the responsibility of handing over benefits for ex-Naxals. Using info given by them, Nayeem used to plan his tasks.”

A retired police officer said that police had encouraged neighbouring states to use the services of Nayeem. “This led to the establishment of Nayeem’s network in Chattisgarh, Mahara-shtra and Odisha. From 2009, he started extortions with the help of rowdy sheeters from the Old City and surrendered Naxals,” the retired official said.

Although Nayeem was wanted in around 100 cases no reward was announced by any agency for him. He was the most wanted by the police in Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Warangal districts and Hyderabad. Nayeem was also the most wanted for the CBI in Sohrabuddin’s case. In Sohrabuddin’s case, Nayeem was the only witness. He had sent Sohrabuddin and his wife to Mumbai from Hyderabad in a bus.

Child panel takes kids’ statements
The kids who were rescued from Nayeem’s den were sent to various state homes in the city on Wednesday. Acting on an appeal made by Balala Hakkula Sangam (BHK), the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) recorded their statements. The CWC has confirmed that nine of the children are minors. The committee has recorded their statements including their native places and why they were brought to Nayeem’s den.

A source from the CWC said that all the nine children were aged between 8 and 18. “We have sent the five girls to the Kasturba home at Narsingi and the four boys to the Saidabad home,” the source said.