16-year-old Najeebudheen died on November 22, 2016, three days after he was involved in a road accident near Perumbadappu in Malappuram.
Najeebudheen’s father, 50-year-old Usman, has since been waging a lonely battle for justice, as he suspects that his son was killed in a planted accident so his organs could be removed. The Malappuram Crime Branch has begun a fresh investigation into the case.
Speaking to TNM, Usman says that there are several reasons why he became suspicious about the manner of his son’s death.
At the time of the accident, Najeebudheen was riding pillion while his friend Abdul Vahid was driving the bike. The duo was on their way to watch a football match at Vannery Higher Secondary School. The accident happened between 11 and 11.30 pm and Abdul died on the spot.
“From the beginning, the Perumbadappu police kept repeating that the bike lost control and hit an electric post, they even kept on saying the same to the media. When I asked them why they were doing that, their reply was that it was for me to get the insurance soon. They never allowed me to see the vehicle,” Usman says.
According to Usman, blood was found clotted at one place for three days at the accident spot. “Usually blood would be found scattered after an accident. Also the police washed the bike before even beginning the investigation, without collecting any evidence,” he alleges.
There were marks on the necks of the boys due to being tied up by motorcycle cable, alleges Usman, which he suspects was used to kill the boys.
Najeebudheen died three days later at Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur where he was admitted after the accident. The doctor who first treated him told the family that the boy was recovering as he was responding to medicines.
“But on November 21 night, we saw blood oozing from both his cheeks. The ICU was crowded but that night he was shifted there and they said he was put on ventilator. After a while, at 1 am, we were told that he was dead. We didn’t know where he was shifted to after that – to another hospital or to the mortuary,” Usman recalls.
Usman alleges that he saw surgery marks on his son and he wants the police to investigate if his son's organs were removed.
"The postmortem was not done at the government medical college but at a taluk hospital. This is again suspicious,” he says, adding that his son could have been a target as he was a young and healthy basketball player.
Usman also alleges that though the Perumbadappu police recorded his statement, they didn’t present it before the court. In November 2016, he filed a complaint with the Circle Inspector Ponnani and in December 2016 with the Malappuram SP.
“A year passed in going to meet officials, but nothing worked. Meanwhile I even got a threatening call and twice there were attempts on my life. In 2018, I filed a complaint with the Chief Minister and the DGP. Though I got an intimation that it was forwarded to the concerned units, I was firm that I will not be satisfied with a crime branch or a police probe,” he says.
Earlier this month, Malayalam daily Madhyamam first reported Usman’s story. On October 17, the Crime Branch launched a fresh investigation, with Crime Branch Malappuram DySP NV Abdul Khader leading the investigation.
Usman and his family shifted to Punnayur in Thrissur after Najeebudheen’s death.
It is interesting to note that the plot of the 2018 Malayalam film Joseph revolves around the murder of a young woman, which is later proved by her father to have been executed by an organ donation mafia.
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