Krishna Prasad was killed by ISI in 1992

G Kishan Reddy, Secunderabad MP and Union Minister of State for Home, stated that Hyderabad became a safe zone for terrorists as any terror incident in the country would have a link to Hyderabad. This was denied by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Does Minister Kishan Reddy remember that one brave police officer of Additional SP rank fell for AK 56 bullets of ISI terrorists in Tolichowki in Hyderabad 27 years ago, and on this Martyrs Day (21st October) he should be remembered?

Exactly 27 years ago, in Bhagyanagar, terrorists had an adda. Can we believe it? And they had AK 56! AK 56 was only being read and heard in those days.

It was on November 29, 1992, at Tolichowki in Hyderabad, Additional Superintendent of Police G Krishna Prasad (1950-92) was shot dead along with his gunman Venkateswar Rao by ISI sponsored terrorist module.

He had gone to search a house following inputs about some terrorists hiding in a house at Brindavan Colony in Tolichowki area of Hyderabad. He was not furnished with information that ISI sponsored terrorists were armed with automatic rifles like Kalashnikovs.

He knocked at the door, when two unsuspecting girls opened the door and tried to prevent Krishna Prasad from making his way into the house.

And suddenly terrorists opened fire with automatic rifle killing him and his gunman. But even while receiving bullets, courageously opened fire from his service pistol in reply to the gunfire from AK 56 rifle.

That great valour did not go in vain. The girls, who received some bullet wounds were caught as they approached a hospital for treatment.

Subsequent interrogation revealed the terror module and that led to arrest of Mujib and encounter of another killer.

Most important rule of war is "to know the enemy is half the victory." And not knowing is complete defeat. No victory or defence can be devised or pursued without knowing whom one is fighting.

Failure of intelligence is more disastrous than an ISI human suicide bomb. If the State does not know that terrorists are camping in its capital, and ignorant of their AK 56, its brave officers shall be martyrs. The tragedy of Krishna Prasad's martyrdom was the result of lack of intelligence.

Independence Day Remission to international terrorist!

Another tragedy that followed was worse than intelligence failure, that is, Krishna Prasad's killer walked out free soon. Main killer Mujib Ahmad was given life-term, that did not mean imprisonment till the end of his life.

After serving just seven years and he walked out of jail. When he was freed from Visakhapatnam Central Jail as a gift of Independence Day, the family of Krishna Prasad was shocked.

The government has adhered to the remission norms as mathematics without any application of mind, and a terrorist killer was not distinguished from ordinary killer.

The result was that a terrorist was released. Who should get gift of remission on Independence Day of India? An Indian convict or a foreign terrorist? A possibly regretting criminal or a ruthless killer?

The explanation of the jail officials was: "The government has decided on the criteria for remission, and whoever fulfilled that condition was released. It happens irrespective of the fact whether the prisoner had reformed his ways or not.

Mujib Ahmed was transferred from Cherlapally jail in Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam Central Jail on disciplinary grounds. Here he was lodged in single cell allowing for little interaction with other prisoners.

When reporters asked whether he was a reformed man, Mujib just smiled. Krishna Prasad's wife and two children were surprised that reformation of a self-confessed terrorist could be so swift! "I have nothing to say about it," said Prasad's widow G Janaki to a reporter at that time.

Pampering of Mujib

It is another tragedy that the Vishakha Central Prison has pampered prisoner Mujib and helped him with cell phones to talk to his terrorist colleagues.

Naidu Nagarjun Reddy, a Naxalite prisoner who was released in August 2004 claimed that jail authorities supplied cell phones to Mujib, who made three calls from these mobiles continuing his terror links.

"Mujib used to make anti-Indian statements and misbehaved with fellow inmates, how could he be released for good conduct on Independence Day?" Nagarjuna Reddy asked.

The jail authorities denying all these allegations told reporters that Vizag Jail was outside cell phone coverage area, even jail authorities could not use the mobiles, how could Mujib use? Strangely, the authorities also claimed that 'bad conduct is not a bar against releasing prisoners as per GO".

The family feels, not the State, surprised at the way the killer was freed, as if he needed to plan for some more attacks. And he did. He was caught conspiring terrorist activities in north India, but he could jump out of custody of police.

The AP government did not find any difference between an ordinary killer undergoing a life sentence and an ISI terrorist who killed a police officer. No due recognition was given to the martyr Krishna Prasad, while his colleagues became DGs or held higher positions.

Ignored or forgotten

The people do not know that the government is not paying due attention to terrorist roots in the old city of Hyderabad, not taking effective action to make Hyderabad or India terrorism-free and to remove risks to police officers like Krishna Prasad.

The police officers murdered by Naxalites get more recognition while a young officer who laid down life fighting the terrorists in Hyderabad was forgotten or ignored.

Brave career

Krishna Prasad, hailing from a middleclass police inspector family, had won the DSP position by sheer merit in Group I examinations. He was born to Gaddam Venkatappaiah, Inspector of Police and Venkata Subbaiamma on 31st July 1950 in Katuru Village, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.

A postgraduate in Science, NCC cadet, sportsman, poet and photographer, Krishna Prasad was married to Janaki and had daughter Deepthi, and son Vivek.

His career as police officer reflects the story of a brave, courageous, and duty-conscious personality fighting with extremists, mafia and terrorists.

Apart from working in troubled areas of Andhra Pradesh, he served in Nowgong and Tezpur districts of Assam when separatist agitation was at its peak.

With his sincere and well-organised work in extremist areas, he could secure arrest of 42 notable leaders of various groups of Naxalites, while several leaders surrendered and joined mainstream.

Though 13 died in 14 encounters there were no doubts about genuineness of the encounters.

Andhra Kesari

We sing the glory of Tanguturi Prakasham, for throwing himself against the .303 British guns in Madras during Independence struggle.

We revere him as Andhra Kesari (Lion of Andhra). Prakasham was facing the aimed guns of British police, while Krishna Prasad faced AK 56 of foreign terrorists. If the former could be a lion, what should be this officer?

Though his family was permitted to reside in the official quarters up to his retirement age, they were denied the extension. No suitable recognition was waiting him during his life or after.

His daughter Deepthi, aged just 12 at that tragedy, found her way through competitive examinations to the Group 1 officer in Telangana. His son is a graduate.

A fatal mix of terrorism, failure of intelligence and absence of good governance convert brave officers into martyrs. The local administration was so shameful that none knew that Tolichowki was a breeding terrorist group. It is not absence of good governance, but brazen bad governance.

This 21st October, the martyr's day, perhaps students of the Gaddam Krishna Prasad Memorial High School in Khammam remembers him, but why not the nation recognises him?

(The writer is former Central Information Commissioner & Dean, School of Law, Bennett University)