Ex-Hyderabad cop, who killed officer in 1990 riots, dead

Former police constable Mohammed Abdul Qadeer, who spent 25 years in jail for killing his senior official during 1990 communal riots in Hyderabad, died on Friday.

He was 56 and survived by wife and three children.

Abdul Qadeer was released last year after Telangana government commuted his life imprisonment on humanitarian grounds following appeals from various quarters.

He had shot dead Assistant Commissioner of Police Sattaiah at Chhatrinaka police station of old city from his service weapon, during the peak of communal riots, in which 200 people were killed. The incident took place on December 8, 1990.

The killing of Sattaiah, whom Abdul Qadeer charged with communal bias in dealing with the riots, had sparked a major furore.

Two years later, a court had found Abdul Qadeer guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

After the former constable spent 14 years in jail, a campaign for his release was launched by various organisations but the family of slain police officer and others had opposed it on the ground that he had killed his senior on duty.

However, in view of his failing health, he was granted parole on many occasions like Eid and wedding of his daughter. While in jail, one of his legs was also amputated due to diabetes.

Abdul Qadeer had stated that he had to pay a heavy price as he was kept in jail for such a long period.

Hundreds of people attended his funeral prayer at historic Makkah Masjid and the burial.

--IANS

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