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Journalism of Courage
W R Varadarajan,a senior CPM leader from Tamil Nadu who was unceremoniously removed from all party posts less than a fortnight ago,has gone missing. His wife has filed a complaint with the Chennai police stating that he has not returned home since February 11.
The decision to remove Varadarajan,a national secretary of CITU and a central committee member of CPM,from all party posts was taken by the CPM central committee which met in Kolkata in the first week of February. The party,however,did not make its decision public. No reason was given for the removal.
A senior politburo member said reasons related to his personal life and conduct was one reason for Varadarajans removal: His personal inappropriate behaviour is the reason for his removal.
Chennai City Police Commissioner T Rajendran said a special team of the Crime Branch has started investigating into the complaint filed by Varadarajans wife Saraswati.
Though party leaders and Saraswati had filed complaints with the City Police Commissioner a few days ago,the media learnt of it only today when a vernacular weekly published two unsigned letters,purportedly written by WR,stating that his body be donated for research and belongings to the party.
The report,published with a screaming headline asking whether the leader had committed suicide,led to wild rumours though police downplayed such theories. According to officials,Varadarajan had a dispute with his wife following which he left home and had not returned since then.
Sources in Tamil Nadu CPM said Varadarajan was expelled following complaints from his wife.
According to a statement from CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan,Varadarajan left behind two unsigned letters and left his residence on February 11 evening. His whereabouts are not known so far,which is very disturbing.
Ramakrishnan said he had met the commissioner last Sunday,urging him to act on Saraswatis complaint. He met DGP Letika Saran today.
