Fearing for his life, Nayeem used children as human shields

Hyderabad: Although police records refer to Nayeemuddin, alias Nayeem, as a Naxalite-turned-gangster involved in murders and extortion at gunpoint, the shocking revelations about the extent of his crime network, his close rapport with top police officials and politicians, and his king-size lifestyle paint a picture of a powerful and frightening warlord.

The members of a special investigation team were taken aback to find a large number of children in hideouts that belonged to Nayeem at various places including in Hyderabad.

What was more startling was the revelation that Nayeem was using these children and some women as a “human shield”.

Eighteen children, most of whom are girls, were rescued from two places in Cyberabad and Mahabubnagar by police and handed over to the Child Welfare Committee. The minors told officials that they not only stayed with Nayeem but also travelled with him, a contingency — to be used as human shields — should he ever be attacked.

However, the children did not complain of sexual abuse by the gangster and said that they were taken care of by the women in the household. Some of the children said that they were related to Nayeem and had come to his house to attend a function.

The information revealed by the arrested associates suggest that Nayeem was afraid and suspicious, and never stayed at one place for more than one day.

“He will never ever use a phone at the place of his stay as he feared that the police will locate him by tracing the phone,” said an official. “He knew all the tricks to ensure his safety and security.”

Perhaps he had picked up tips to ensure security through his association with some police officials involved in anti-naxalite operations, one officials said.

The official added that he would so far as to make phone calls only while travelling. “Normally, he used to head onto national highways or the Outer Ring Road around Hyderabad and travel for 50 kms before calling over phone,” the official said.

During such travels, he would be surrounded by children and women as police officers would hesitate to open fire due to their presence.

He had also stepped up his security in recent months after learning that police orders were to hunt him down and they were making headway in the chase.

Even while chalking out the plans to target him, police, especially the Special Intelligence Bureau, the Intelligence department and the Greyhounds officials had to factor in the “human shield” element, sources said.

But strangely, when he was shot dead at Millennium Township at Shadnagar, 50km from Hyderabad on Monday he was alone with his driver and there were no human shields, making the story of an encounter more dubious.

Nayeem commanded fierce loyalty among his associates and followers mostly from the backward and poverty-stricken areas of Nalgonda district. He used to offer free housing plots to people who joined his gang and had emerged as a role model for those seeking easy money.

With the help of his gang, which also included many former Naxalites, and patronage from some police officials and politicians, he had created such terror in Nalgonda district and other parts of the state that the mere mention of his name got desired results.

While many politicians had links to Nayeem and were regularly in touch with him to secure his services, Nayeem was also known to issue threats to the other leaders who were not in his good books. His writ ran in Nalgonda to the extent that he used to dictate who could contest from some of the assembly constituencies and who could not.