A 'museum' at home in memory of heroic cop

Retd Dy SP Abdul Karim erected a showcase in honour of his son

A wooden sword inscribed with sacred verses from Quran, mementoes given in honour of the relentless battle for justice, awards that enriched a father’s fight for his son’s honour, and most importantly photographs of the man who is still remembered for his bravery, and of another who raised hope for justice.

All are now the prized possessions of a museum named after slain sub-inspector Shakeel Ahmed at his father’s house at No 10, Vivekananda Road, Yadavagiri in the city. Located at the verandah, if not for a keen visitor, it will be a mere showcase.
Unlike conventional museums, this one is restricted to a showcase. When it comes to preserving the memories associated with the articles, it stands on par with museums where antiques speak more than words.

Retired Dy SP Abdul Karim, father of Shakeel Ahmed was 75 when he decided to take a plunge in the battle for justice. Shakeel had been done to death by forest brigand Veerapan in the widely known Meenyam ambush in Kollegal taluk in 1992 and the killers were about to go scot-free following a bail, when Karim decided to step out of the house. Till justice was met (from 2000 to 2004), there wasn’t a day Abdul Karim slept peacefully.

It was his ordeal that came in for recognition, and various organisations heaped awards and felicitations on the revered father. Karim was conferred an award by M S Bhitta, a disabled Sikh who has his own anti-terrorist front. A photograph of the moment and also the award is among the articles at the museum. 

Shakeel’s elder brother Jameel Ahmed professor in political science, University of Mysore, explains the minute details of the photo where his father with a walking stick looks all energetic on the podium, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. About the sword nailed on the top, inside the showcase, Jameel Ahmed says, Shakeel didn’t receive anything, not even a pen as a goodwill gesture from others, but for the sword with sacred words as considered in Islam.

Young Shakeel in khaki, especially with a tinge of smile on his face holding the steering of a jeep, in the form of photos, explains about his impulse for the job.
Another photograph is that of an old bespectacled man. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if you mistake him for Abdul Karim in his younger days, for one wouldn’t be having the inkling of any outsider finding place in the museum. It’s the only article that doesn’t have a direct link with the protagonists of the story, but helped to tread down the road to justice.

The photo in question is that of Supreme Court Justice Bharucha who allowed the plea of Abdul Karim. Karim was indebted to him. Books that had been companions for Karim till his death in 2009 also adorn the shelves here.

The museum was formally inaugurated with the who’s who of the city participating in the function, albeit a quiet one.