Arikkad Varghese

Who was Arikkad Varghese?

Arikkad Varghese, popularly known as Naxal Varghese, was an Indian communist activist, who fought mainly to protect the Adivasis in Wayanad from the exploitation of the feudal lords, and the police system which then aided the exploitation, during the 1960s.

Naxal Varghese is especially notable in the history of Kerala, for being murdered by the police in a fake encounter, and the truth of this incident which remained unknown for 40 years. After 40 years, the very policeman who fired the shot revealed to the world that he had murdered him, and called for a trial. In the course of the trial, the now-old policeman died before he could testify before the court. A colleague of his testified, and one senior police officer who ordered the murder was convicted and sentenced by the court.

Other Naxalites who worked with him were Ajitha, Sankaran Master, and Grow Vasu.