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Kerala
`People's probe' into Moulvi case
By Our Staff Reporter
KOCHI, DEC. 21. A people's investigation under the leadership of Mr. V.R. Krishna Iyer, former judge of the Supreme Court, will be conducted to unearth the mystery behind the disappearance of the radical Islamic scholar, Chekannur Moulavi. This was decided at a cultural congregation organised by the Chekannur Moulavi Disappearance State-Level Action Committee held here on Thursday.
Inaugurating the meeting, Mr. Krishna Iyer described the current stalemate in the CBI investigation into the disappearance of Chekannur Moulavi as a result of political interference. He said fundamentalists had tried to destroy an ideology itself by eliminating the Moulavi.
It is the responsibility of society that those who worked for the elimination of the Moulavi be brought to book, Mr. Iyer said. According to him, the Moulavi was abducted and killed by fundamentalist elements at a time when the presence of the radical Islamic scholar was essential for the State. He also demanded that justice be doled out to the family of Chekannur Moulavi by subjecting the culprits to exemplary punishment.
Mr. Iyer, who is one of the chief patrons of the action committee, also suggested that the CBI seek the help of the Interpol to bring home those accused who are currently living abroad. The CBI as well as the Central Government can press for their extradition through the embassies of the countries where the accused are currently staying, he said. The Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs should take the initiative for their extradition, he added.
Mr. Iyer warned the State and Central Governments that the human rights organisations in the State will not rest until the mystery behind the disappearance of the Moulavi is solved. The Governments would constantly be under pressure from human rights activists until those who eliminated Chekannur Moulavi are brought to book, he said. He also warned that the investigating agency would face strong public agitation if it fails to arrest the culprits soon.
Dr. Sebastian Paul, former MLA, presided over the function. Among those who addressed the gathering were Prof. M.K. Sanu, Mr. M.M. Lawrence, Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. M.N. Karasseri, Mr. U. Kalanathan, Mr. K.P.O. Rahmatullah, Mr. Abbas Paravanna and Mr. K.K. Salim Haji.
The disappearance of Chekannur Moulavi from his house at Edappal, Malappuram, on July 29, 1993, had caused an uproar not only over the lackadaisical attitude of the various agencies which investigated the case but also over the burgeoning of a new breed of religious fundamentalism in the State.
Chekannur Moulavi, who advocated many radical reforms among Muslims and formed the Quran Sunnath Society, had begun to emerge as a threat to the orthodox Muslim sections when he disappeared from his house in 1993.
After the initial investigation by the State police and then by the Crime Branch, the case was handed over to the CBI. After a hiatus of several years and a series of agitations, the CBI broke the imbroglio with the arrest of two youths from Malappuram in November last year.
However, the excavation the CBI conducted at Chuvannakunnu, Aroor, near Malappuram for the remains of the Moulavi, who was reported
to have been strangulated and buried there on the night he disappeared from his house, yielded no results.
A few of those who are wanted by the CBI in connection with the case are believed to have escaped to the Gulf. The CBI's questioning of the noted Sunni leader, Kanthapuram Aboobaker Musliar, general secretary of the All-India Jamiyyathul Ulama, a few months ago in Kochi had raised anxiety among the community.
There has been no development in the case in recent months with those who are suspected to be the main culprits remaining elusive. And with the remains of the Moulavi yet to be traced, the mystery over his disappearance continues.
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