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The ATS believed it had cracked the September 29 Malegaon bomb blast case, and about a month ago arrested Hindu extremists in a breakthrough that shocked the nation and added a new twist to the entire discourse on terror and religion.
But as the probe unravelled the alleged plot and the role of some Hindu leaders, the case got caught in the politics of terror and the ATS was at the centre of charges that it was being used as a tool to target the Sangh Parivar amid allegations of illegal detention and torture by some of the 11 arrested for the blast.
The BJP, RSS and VHP leaders, among others from the Hindu nationalist brigade, accused the ATS of being on a witch-hunt, with some even demanding that ATS officers be subjected to a narco-analysis to establish their motives.
No less a leader than the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, L K Advani, had demanded a change in the ATS team and a judicial inquiry into the torture allegations made by Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a key suspect in the Malegaon case.
The Shiv Sena too had come out in support of the suspects and on Wednesday had threatened in its mouthpiece Saamna that it would publish the names of some ATS officers and shame them as it said they had tortured the Malegaon suspects.
That Karkare was affected by this was apparent when we met at his office on Tuesday to get an update on the probe, less than 36 hours before he was killed. The Indian Express has decided to break the confidence of what was an off-the-record conversation in an attempt to highlight the anguish of the investigators over the currents in which the Malegaon probe was getting caught as well as the larger debate over the politics of terror.
"I don't know why this case has become so political," was one of Karkare's first comments. "The pressure is tremendous and I am wondering how to extricate it from all the politics."
Was the pressure telling on the investigation, what with someone who could be the next prime minister of the country questioning the credibility of the ATS?
"Of course," was the answer. "We are being very very careful. In fact, when we want to question a suspect and if he or she has any Hindutvawadi connections, we make sure once, twice, thrice, that we have enough reason and evidence to even question. Normally it is not like that. We are able to freely question anyone we suspect."
"In fact, immediately after the blast I had visited Malegaon along with the Deputy Chief Minister and other officials and witnessed the anger of the locals who shouted some slogans," Karkare said. "After that I told my men that we have to pursue this case very objectively and not start with assumptions that people of this community or that community could be responsible."
Originally from Madhya Pradesh, Karkare studied mechanical engineering in Nagpur and worked at the National Productivity Council and Hindustan Lever before making it to the IPS in 1982. Known to be an upright officer who served in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) as well as the Indian mission in Vienna, Austria, as a counselor, Karkare did not hide his love for Mumbai or his discomfort with the predominantly political-bureaucratic culture of Delhi where he was posted.
During a stint in the Chandrapur forests near Nagpur in 1991 to fight Naxalites, he took an interest in driftwood, discovered artistic shapes in them and converted them into wooden sculptures, making about 150 of them over a two-year period. Talking to the media about sensitive cases such as Malegaon could prove to be a double-edged sword, he had said as we parted, adding that he would like us to meet informally once a month so that he could learn the ways of the media.
His last visuals as seen on TV showed him working with his men near the VT station, the target of one of the attacks, although it is perplexing at this point in time why such a senior officer ended up getting exposed to a brazen terrorist attack. Initially, he was shown wearing a shoddy helmet normally seen used by constables during riots. A little later, a policeman lowers a flimsy bulletproof vest over his shoulders, one that was obviously of little protection when those fatal shots were fired at him.
The previous evening, hours after our meeting, TV channels had ‘breaking news’ that he had received a fresh death threat from some unidentified caller, apparently in connection with the Malegaon probe. An Indian Express reporter SMSed him asking him if this was true or if he had anything to say. His reply: just a smiley.
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I recently read the book Who Killed Karkare, written by a former Inspector General of Maharashtra.It is extremely sad that we hindus killed a hindu! If there are hindu terrorists we must face them, fight them and remove terrorism by the roots so that we may proudly say once more that a hindu cannot be a terrorist! If we dont fight them and blame others, what will be the difference between us and the others?
Irrespective to what peple say every terrorist ,whether hindu or muslim ia an anti social elemmnet and aliability to society. Karkare has proved that no relegion is imune to terror training. After his raining in some anyasins and aswamis no terror bomb exploded in traim or bus which shows that he has booked the real culprit.I appreciate his courage and commitment in action of arresting a servingmilitary intelligence officer in this country it is not possible to take action aganist even an erring poloce consatble,I salute him
It is very unfortunate that we missed a brave hearted officer like Mr Hemant Karakare and others..It also sounds very bad (and not true )to hear that Hindu and Hindu agenda parties killed Mr Karkare.It is said that ATS was working under the direction of Mr Sharad Pawar and under the orders of RR PATIL, THE THEN hOME mINISTER.Under these politicians directions,it is heard that Pradnya SINGH tHAKUR AND OTHERS ARE BOOKED AS Terrorost.and was a POLITICAL MOVE TO IMPRESS mUSLIMS and misguide the people at large that Hindus are terrorist.Mr Pawar is a political ambitious leader and he can go to any extent to get votes of Muslims by creating a wrong impressions about Hindus.Many people say that Mr Pawar and his Home Minister Mr RR Patil were the people behind these peoples death.Mr Antulay wanted to say the same thing to the people at large but he was then compelled not to raise this issue,it is said. The role of politicians in this regard needs to examined by CBI
SIR,MR. KARAKRE, I SALUTE YOU AS I LOOK YOU AS A FREEDOM FIGHTER, COZ, I FEEL THE SAME FEELING WHEN I HEARED OUR LATE PM INDIRA GANDI WAS SHOT DEAD BY HER OWN COMMANDOS. YOU ARE TOO BY IN SOME WAYS. YOU BRAVE HEART. I ALSO SALUTE THE INDIAN EXPRESS EDITOR IN CHEIF - BADMA VIBUSHAN MR. GUPTA FOR REMINDING HIM ALWAYS WHEN ALL THE MEDIAS HAVE FORGOTTON.I HAVE HOPE IN INDIA LONG LIVE COZ YOU REPRESENTED AND INSPIRED A LOTS.
The culprit are the Politicians,who will always talk that law takes its own course,when Mumbai was under unrest,due to marathi-bihari divide,created by another Politician to gain stature,when RahulRaj was encountered,when we were busy fighting among ourselves.Intelligence inputs were coming about the terror attack, which got ignored by ourPolice, who were giving statement about disclosure about the biggest internal terror network.The real terror was shown to us on 26/11.All the three brave officers must have been directed by,none other than homeminister,to face the bullets of a terrorist.The Politicians are insensitive,Indian laws have failed miserably due to dishonesty and distortion in its compliance . Now is the time for a change.The country should be divided in four zones,N,S,E,W.Everybody is an Indian.Instead of Politicians,the Army should rule this country,and the same discipline should be followed,as in the Defence services,otherwise many more attacks
It is very unfortunate that Hindus and Hindu agenda parties kill a Hindu! Hemant Karkare was most honest and fearless officer.
I don't know much about Mr. Hemant Karakre but after the Mumbai incident I started my quest to expolre more about this brave man who stood up against BJP / RSS "the terrorist organizations". I'm a Pakistani but I want to pay my homage to Mr. Karakre and his family and I hope that one day we all would know as who were the real perpetrators behind Mumbai attack and the untimely death of Mr. Karakre.
Surly the politicians have role in Martyre Mr. hemant Karkare's death. They can not escape their act and people of India should teach lesson to these politicians. This flame of anger should burn all politicians who are responsible fo rit be it BJp or Congress or any other. Martyre Hemant Karkare's soul will not rest in peace unless we do it i.e remove dirty politicians from this earth.
ALAS!!! BJP finally murdered such a great hero.
It is very unusual to send back a policeman from RAW to a state posting. In Jan 2008 he was sent back to the state for a reason. It may have something to do with creating 'Hindu terror' for the next parliament election. There is an elaborate network of supporting muslims for this terror attack as the terrorists were accompanied by a muslim lady.Large quantity of weapons were shifted to hotels by the supporting staff. ATS must have been under their surveillance or some policemen must have been working for the terrorists. The moment Karkare got in to the jeep the terrorists are aware of it and karkare was a dead man then
Would some one loud abt rest of the heroes who died even more vehementally???Let us give honest credit to all...We must not stop at a single person, simply because he held a Senior position.
Salaam to you more then on any one else you are martyr of the highest order no one who we know has sacrificed himself in such a way my condolences to your equally brave and valuable family. Truth cost u ur life but I pray it comes out in the same honest way u worked on it .Hemant is the new name of Secularism and Nationalism which lot of our politicians do not want. Let all the officers take inspiration from persons like u.
salute mr hemant karkare, my heart goes out to his family, thanks to the politicans and cm of maharashtra inspite of the warnings of such a large scale,we have lost 3 brave chiefs and many innocent lifes. NO VALUE FOR OTHERS LIFE!!
It is tragic that a honest officer was killed in operation. But central/Maharashtra government should set up CBI enquiry about Death of Mr. Karkare. He was threatened a day ago. It does not call for a genious to tell who is after his death. But court need proof and whole country has right to know who is after his death. How can we separate two terror act malegaon and this one? It is evident when they thought one by one everyone will be caught they strategize and stage such heinous act and to destroy evidence they killed honest officer.
It is karkare who saved us from this attack and fought valiantly and gave his life. Salute to him. Ban BJP and RSS.
The Late Hemant karkare is the real hero . People like them should be remebered and there familise should be supported. People get forget about persons who dies for protecting people , protecting our NATION. If attention is not given to their relatives people wont like to work in these Forces. Please pay attention for his successors. I pray for his departed soul's peace. People should forget SHAHRUKH,SALMAN
Hemant Karkare the great hero of india had saved us from those terrorists who dont have any sense .I pray for his departed soul's peace.India will always salute him.
This is time to express condolences to our beloved brothers who have sacrificed their life for protecting our nations.Javans, we are saluting you for your bereave action and love of nation.May God help to rest the soul of all who lost their life in the incident? Moidu Chalilmoidu@haluloffshore.com
I have been watching the terror episodes on the TV that happened in Mumbai and shocked to find such excellent, knowledgeable cops falling prey to terrorists' bullets. Naturally some people still fail to understand how that could happen?
what was the moyive of the attack? he whole ATS TEAM has been finished..its a big conspiracy and cheap politics just before Mr. Krakare was about to revel the name s of the big fishes involved in various blasts. We salute the Courage and Honesty Shown by Mr. Hemant Karkare and His team in Solving Malegaon and other blasts.their death is a big blow to the nation... Masood Khan
salute to you sir, being myself a civil service aspirant you have induced a battery of charge in me. karkare sahab will be remembered by all the indians for his brave deeds. being an officer of IG rank he didnt left his men in difficult times. an engineer, engineered his death the best possible way one can. one thing we must learn from his episode that INDIA comes first. hopefully our politicians will learn it quickly. may his soul rests in peace, my prayers and best wishes are with his family.
i feel very sad and emotional when i think of all these brave men who are no more with us physically, though they will continue to inspire generations by their bravery. if it were not for men like them, we cannot even sit and type our thoughts! i want to do some thing to permanantly stop terrorism and and wish and feel that a lot many of you feel the same. so let us all join together and fight against devils like TERRORISM, CORRUPTION, INEQUALITY, TO MAKE OUR NATION A TRULY FREED AND DEMOCRATIC NATION! VANDE MATARAM!
The most notable news I heard is Ms. Karkare's rejection of Modi's help. Terrorism has raised its ugly head so badly because of polititions like Modi who nurture communal hatred for political gains. Babri Masjid, Gujarat, Orrissa, Malagov series , if continued will keep on killing innocent people and sacrifice lives of dedicated officers and soldiers like Mr. Karkare. Ms Karkare should run as an independant candidate from Bombay to Lok Sabha to mobilize public opinion against dirty tricks by political parties
i just want to pay my respect to ATS chief Hemant Karkare.I guess this is high time politician should do something about security of these brave men.
salute to the hero in police uniform, a rare IPS
I am proud to be an Indian and wish to see the safety and security of all Indians - irrespective of their caste and creed. If people keep supporting extremism (whether Hindus or Muslims) and bring religion to politics, the nation is sure to doom. We have seen our neighbor Pakistan which is literally ruled by terrorists. This is surely the result of religious extremism. Everybody has the liberty to practice and propogate his religion, but not at the cost of disintigeration of the nation. After all we are all Indians. To me it came as a great surprise that at a moment when the historical and daring investigations of Malegaon were undertaken by Karkare (surely he was Indian hero) these attacks came out and resulted in complete stop to those investigations. These attacks have not downrailed the investigation but also eliminated from our memories that there is something like Hindu extremism (if not terrorism) that exists. Hope some one gets to the root of these attacks.