K. Lakshmana
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K. Lakshmana is a Kerala Cadre
Indian Police Service The Indian Police Service (IPS) is a civil service under the All India Services. It replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after India became Partition of India, independent from the British Empire. Along with the Indian Admini ...
officer who retired as State Police Chief of
Kerala Police The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, ...
in rank of
Inspector General of Police An inspector-general of police is a senior police officer in the police force or police service of several nations. The rank usually refers to the head of a large regional command within a police service, and in many countries refers to the most ...
. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a CBI Special Court forty years later, in the case relating to the encounter killing of
Arikkad Varghese Arikkad Varghese (19 February 1938 – 18 February 1970), popularly known as Saghavu (Comrade) Varghese or Naxal Varghese was an Indian CPIML leader involved in activities supporting Adivasis in Wayanad during the 1960s. His actions were link ...
in the
Thirunelly Thirunelly is a village in Wayanad district in the state of Kerala, India. Thirunelli Temple is in the village. Demographics India census, Thirunelly had a population of 11719 with 5774 males and 5945 females. See also * Kattikkulam * Man ...
forest in Wayanad on 18 February 1970.


Personal life

K. Lakshmana is from Scheduled Caste background and is one of the first direct recruited Deputy superintendent of police from a disadvantaged background. Adv. Sangeetha Lakshmana, prominent advocate who practices at the High Court of Kerala, is his daughter.


Service record

* As DySP in the ''Anti-Corruption Wing'' of the Kerala Police in the 1960s, Lakshmana had handled important cases of corruption alleged against Chief Forest Conservatory, Public Works Department, Prisons Department, Directorate of Health Services, Medical Colleges etc. In all these instances, corrupt practices involved were successfully investigated and exposed by this Officer. * A significant detection on investigation conducted by Lakshmana was the surprise inspection of spurious
X-ray An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...
equipments supplied in the State Health Department. Spurious led glass used in the X-ray Screen used in the X-ray rooms in hospitals as protection from radiation by the X-ray technicians were detected from various hospitals. Along with that, spurious protective aprons supplied to those X-ray units for use by technicians was also detected. Lakshmana has been instrumental in curtailing the health hazards caused to such X-ray technicians. * The first case of misuse of original genuine Security Paper used to print the currency notes of the Reserve Bank of India, by the counterfeiters of Kerala, after committing theft of the same from the Security Paper Mill of RBI in Hoshangabad was detected by the Counterfeit Squad of the Crime Branch CID Kerala headed by Lakshmana in the 1970s. * A member of quack medical practitioners were apprehended and prosecuted by the Crime Branch Team headed by him in the 1970s for the first time in the history of Kerala. * During The Emergency he was SP of
Kozhikode district Kozhikode (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, along its southwestern Malabar Coast. The city of Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is the district headquarters. The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has a corporation l ...
. * In a surprise inspection conducted at the Connemera Market, Palayam, Trivandrum in the 1960s he detected meat of diseased animals infected with TB being sold out as ‘pure mutton’ with forged seal of the Corporation Health Officer. Another detection during that raid was the practice of butchers to treat the skinned carcass of male calves of cows in betal leaf juice to make it appear as mutton rather than beef. Tails of goats grafted to the tail of such carcasses of calves to invite the customers were also detected. Such spurious and hazardous meat of low quality being supplied to Mental Hospital Trivandrum was also detected during the said raid conducted by this Officer. * Apart from his achievements in various investigations of crimes and in enquiries into corruption and other administrative lapses and irregularities, Lakshmana was known for his lightning inspections conducted in police stations and other police offices. His inspection and enquiry reports and case dairies later became the chosen reference materials in the police training colleges of the State Police. Lakshmana was also known for his strictness in enforcing discipline in the State Police in order to prevent misuse of police powers as a result of which he had become the target covert attack by the Kerala Police Association.


Encounter of Arikkad Varghese

In 1970's
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency The Naxalite–Maoist insurgency is an ongoing conflict between the Indian government and Left-wing terrorism, left-wing extremist groups. The Naxalites are a group of communist groups, who follow Maoist political sentiment and ideology, and c ...
was intense in
Wayanad district Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of the Indian state of Kerala, with its administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, ...
of Kerala, then part of
Kannur district Kannur () is one of the 14 Districts of Kerala, districts along the west coast in the state of Kerala, India. The city of Kannur is the district headquarters and gives the district its name. The old name, Cannanore, is the anglicized form of th ...
. There were Bolivian Revolutionary style executions conducted by
Naxals Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic Eight ...
.
Varghese Varghese, Varughese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varughis, and Varkey are Syriac–Malayalam variants of the Assyrian Syriac/Aramaic Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (George). It is given as first, middle, or last name among the Syrian Christ ...
was leader of naxals who executed a landlord named Vasudeva Adiga in Wayanad.
Kerala Police The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, ...
and
Central Reserve Police Force The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CRPF assists states and Union Territories in maintaining law and order and internal security. It is composed of the Cent ...
were combinedly trying to nab
Varghese Varghese, Varughese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varughis, and Varkey are Syriac–Malayalam variants of the Assyrian Syriac/Aramaic Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (George). It is given as first, middle, or last name among the Syrian Christ ...
and he gets killed in this in February 1970. There were lot of controversies surrounding death of
Varghese Varghese, Varughese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varughis, and Varkey are Syriac–Malayalam variants of the Assyrian Syriac/Aramaic Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (George). It is given as first, middle, or last name among the Syrian Christ ...
among
Naxals Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic Eight ...
and
Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) is a Communism in India, communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electora ...
followers. In November 1998, there was a revelation by CRPF Constable Ramachandran Nair before media that he had shot
Varghese Varghese, Varughese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varughis, and Varkey are Syriac–Malayalam variants of the Assyrian Syriac/Aramaic Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (George). It is given as first, middle, or last name among the Syrian Christ ...
following orders from then DySP Lakshmana and DIG Vijayan. Following this revelation, the latter's brothers and former Naxal colleagues like
Ayinoor Vasu Ayinoor Vasu (GROW Vasu) (born 1930) is a Human rights activist and trade unionist in Kerala, India. Biography Mr. A. Vasu is also an environmental activist. He is well known for his bold stands in the fight for justice for Dalits, Tribals a ...
approached the Kerala High Court for a CBI probe. The court in 1999 had asked the CBI to investigate Varghese's death. The CBI had filed charge sheets against Nair, Vijayan and Lakshmana before CJM in March 1999. In the ensuing trial, the court examined 31 witnesses in the trial. ''
Arikkad Varghese Arikkad Varghese (19 February 1938 – 18 February 1970), popularly known as Saghavu (Comrade) Varghese or Naxal Varghese was an Indian CPIML leader involved in activities supporting Adivasis in Wayanad during the 1960s. His actions were link ...
's two brothers and neighbour Prabhakaran, saw a handcuffed
Arikkad Varghese Arikkad Varghese (19 February 1938 – 18 February 1970), popularly known as Saghavu (Comrade) Varghese or Naxal Varghese was an Indian CPIML leader involved in activities supporting Adivasis in Wayanad during the 1960s. His actions were link ...
being taken by the police, and they testified this in the court. Thomas, one of the brothers had told the court that on the day of the incident, some policemen came to his house and informed the family that
Arikkad Varghese Arikkad Varghese (19 February 1938 – 18 February 1970), popularly known as Saghavu (Comrade) Varghese or Naxal Varghese was an Indian CPIML leader involved in activities supporting Adivasis in Wayanad during the 1960s. His actions were link ...
had died in an encounter. He had identified the body, which was buried at the compound of their house after the Church refused a resting place.'' Delivering the judgment, CBI Special court judge S Vijay Kumar said the first accused in the case, late CRPF constable P Ramachandran Nair had committed the act of murder on the command of Lakshmana, the second accused, who was the then DYSP. The judge convicted Lakshmana of the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 of IPC ''The court also stated that the statement of witnesses has established the presence of Lakshmana on the spot of crime and his giving threatening instructions to Ramachandran Nair to kill
Varghese Varghese, Varughese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varughis, and Varkey are Syriac–Malayalam variants of the Assyrian Syriac/Aramaic Christian name Giwargis/Gewargis/Givargis (George). It is given as first, middle, or last name among the Syrian Christ ...
. The court held that it cannot at any stretch of imagination be concluded that all the witnesses have colluded or conspired together to falsely implicate the accused in the case. These witnesses are also not shown to have any element of motive or enmity to the accused, the court held. The chances of
Arikkad Varghese Arikkad Varghese (19 February 1938 – 18 February 1970), popularly known as Saghavu (Comrade) Varghese or Naxal Varghese was an Indian CPIML leader involved in activities supporting Adivasis in Wayanad during the 1960s. His actions were link ...
who is a Naxalite leader, alone getting isolated in the forest without the company of any of his followers and getting himself engaged in an encounter with a team of armed CRPF men are remote, the court held.'' Ramachandran Nair, who died in 2006, had stated that he made the confession after all these years to clear his conscience. The verdict of the CBI Special Court was later upheld by the
Kerala High Court The High Court of Kerala is the List of high courts in India, highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and the Union territory of Lakshadweep. It is located in Kochi. Drawing its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the Hig ...
.


See also

*
Jayaram Padikkal R. Jayaram Padikkal was an IPS officer. He had served as the Director General of Police (DGP), the highest rank in the force in the period 1993–94. Early years Jayaram Padikkal I.P.S. was born in Peruvemba village Palghat in Kerala as the ...
* M. Abdul Sathar Kunju *
Jacob Punnoose Jacob Punnoose was the Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala and the State Police Chief. He retired on 31 August 2012 after serving more than 35 years in the Indian Police Service and in Kerala Police. He was succeeded by Sri K.S.Balasubram ...
* R. B. Sreekumar *
Kerala Police The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakshmana, K. 1935 births Living people People from Kasaragod district Indian Police Service officers Indian police chiefs Kerala Police officers