Nedunkandam, Idukki: The Idukki District Police and the Wayanad police have reached the final stage of their probe to ascertain whether Nirappel Thankappan, who lived in Mavadi, near here, for almost 50 years and died recently, was Naxal leader Allungal Sreedharan, who went into hiding 50 years ago during the heydays of the Left extremist movement.
The police are thoroughly checking the antecedents of Allungal Sreedharan from the time he went absconding from Wayanad 50 years ago. The police are also looking into the criminal cases in which he had been implicated during those times.
The District Special Branch and the State Intelligence wing are conducting a thorough inquiry. The Intelligence agencies gave a preliminary inquiry report to the Wayanad police. The investigation was begun at the request of the Wayanad police.
Allungal Sreedharan, who was wanted by the Wayanad police, could not be traced then though the police searched every nook and corner where the Naxalites had influence.
It is learnt that Sreedharan came to Mavadi in Idukki district and settled there without the notice of the police. Then he changed his name to Nirappel Thankappan, He did farming in the Kalakkattil cardamom estate while continuing with his party work. He spent almost 50 years there.
The local people came to know about the antecedents of Thankappan after the communication sent by former firebrand Naxalite K Ajitha to Parathodu local committee secretary Jiji Varghese on the death of Sreedharan went public.
