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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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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.
we have proud on you. for me you are same as our natinal leaders for independecenow i think i also want to die like you. your place will be in my heart and your ideas will be in my mind.from now you are my ideal i will also became like you
We are not fools, truth behind the murder of ATS chief and his associates shall come out. If not India will be fanatically lead into a most pathetic situation. Already Pakistan and Pakistanis are in this same trap and suffering hell because of religious fanaticism. But we are trying to imitate what Hitler's Germany did to the world and itself. Hitler's Germany brought all out disaster only. But in the beginning it looked so good. Fellow Indians let us defeat every politician and clergy irrespective of any party and religion who justify violence and terrorism. Let the deaths of just officers such as ATS Chief not go waste. Let every one of us be fair and just in our thoughts and deeds. Let India become a model state to the world. At the same time the terrorist who came from Pakistan shall be punished and whomever associated with them shall be put to death. Every Indian Muslim too shall have this same spirit. No mercy towards terrorism whoever do shall be hated with everything.
It is high time we learnt to distinguish between terrorism and a war in disguise. The correct response to the Mumbai attack is certainly not to raise our accusing fingers against a nation or two and sit back with brazen ease of willing suspension of disbelief. The aptest response to this would be to raise a central force having its own elaborate intelligence wing strictly meant for defending few most important cities, establishments and installations besides waging a full scale diplomatic war against the nation behind such dastardly cold blooded attacks against us. This central force would be responsible for thwarting any attack or threat to the peace of these cities either from outside or form inside. This might prove great step towards ensuring not only the nation’s security but also it’s integrity.
what is happening to our country? who is behind all these activities? terrorrists from out side or inside? they belong to muslim community or hindu community? here the important thing to remember is the election to the parliament is approaching.. some one has to prove that india is under threat.. and the now on government cannot care india.. i am not trying to whitewash the terrorrism on muslim community...but when reading about karkare...to whom the karkare's absence was needed?...to whom karkare's duty was threat?...v have to think.....
I saw the Funeral . It is heartening. 15000 Mourning souls for an officer who dies while saving the Country!! Great . Like How the Old stones of Taj Hotel saves the Structure from Fire , these strong willed duty officers are only saving the Country from the weakly built Politicans who are actually the cancers of political culture of the nation who are firing the nation on daily basis through erosion of values , eruption of corruption etc., Let our Younger generations witness such patriotism from the older generation . Such Attitudes of Leadership alone can take the country on the right path especially when we are ina time where both the PM and the Opposition Leader cannot even travel together to witness a national tragedy by keeping the politics aside. Shame on our system and political values extracted from a 6000 year old culture .
I want karkare death proof how is he die. he was so experience in front of all the terrorist who were just between 20-25 yrs that he die so early in fight with them.i think it was not terror attack it was full proof plan to kill all the honest officer's who were died in the terriosm attack.
This is a well planned attack and we are responsible for it. Our costal secutiry is sooo poor and the sm ewas being flashed on news few weeks ago with pride. How is it possible that only 3 top officers who were going to reveal names of Malegaon Blast culprits were gunned down. The were killed in a planned manner by our inhuman people.Some action must be taken against culprits. Its a shame on the government that such incidents take place. We need more honest and responsible politicians.
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.
May god bless his soul...
STOP THE SAMJOTHA EXPRESS. WE WILLL THINK IN ALL PEAC TERMS WHEN THERE IS PEACE AMONG THE COUNTRIES. AND ALSO WHN THE PEOPLE AMONG THE COUNTRIES WILL HAVE LOVE FOR EACH OTHERS COUNTRIES.BOTH MIND YOU THE COUNTRIES EACH NATIONAL SHOULD LEARN TO HAVE LOVE FOR EACH OTHERS COUNTRIES. THIS WILL YAKE TIME BUT ONE RLE SHOULD BE MADE THAT IF ANYONE IS CAUGHT IN THI STYPEOF TERRORIST ACTIVITY JUST DEPORYT THE ENTIRE FAMILY.AND ALSO IF THE RELATIVES THAT SAME ACRION WILLL BE TAKEN WITH THEM IF THEY TOO ARE INVOLVED.DEPORT THE FAMILY--------------TTHEN THEY WILL KNOW WHAT IS A ROOF ON YOUR HEAD LIKE YOUR COUNTRY.
Mr Hemant Karkare's sacrifice truly proves that We Indians are undeterred by any terrorist attack. The enemies should not forget that with officers like Mr Karkare they can never succeed in disrupting harmony in our nation. I Salute the Brave officer and his family. jai Hind!
Thr is not a country in the wrld,as ours,whic has been so tolernt to the plethora of religions and cultures tht has come to us,has been welcomd wit such warmth,respect n luv.and now..It is heart wrenching to c d petty fights n massacare in d name of religion n language!!Any religion's prime objctiv is to maintain a social order,discipline n abv all, brothrhood..n the moment it counteracts..it becms terrorism.Our belovd nation is in a pathetic state now whr secularism is confined only in d constitution..India is soon becmin a religious fanatic's paradise and a breeding place for crookd political chieftains..we may not b able to shoot dwn a terorist. But we can disarm them,by takin thm off their sourc of pwr,human resource!Lets strt by banishin d religious bariers;with our frnds,neighbrs,clasmates,collegues,n all the ppl whos servic we seek,but take for grantd evryday.its d least we cn do
Mr. Hemant Karkare is indeed the HERO..................ishwar unki atma ko shanti de........
It is sad to read unagreed statements on the martyordom of Great Great Mr. Karkare, dear friends please dont be trapped in politics, we have seen many discriminatory actions by politics, regardless of ideology they are believing, Please join hands pay tribute Mr. Karakre's Martyordom. Islam, Hinduism or anyother relegion has got anything to do with terrorism, they dont even preach to hate anyone, so all of you go back to your relegious scriptures and read what they are saying. Lets all try to see INDIA, our BHARATH MATHA shining.
We salute the Heroes. Mr. Karkare and others. We equally condemn the politicians who interfere with investigation and politicise everything for their self interest. Mr. Advani should repent for his remarks on ATS whchi losts its top brass. We request all the politicians not to interfere in investigation, security aspects, law and order which are most essentials to the society including politicians.
Mr. Hemant was an obstacle to BJPs journey to power. Again by taking his life, it's not the so-called terrorist, but BJP n BJP alone who is gaining. In fact he is the person that tipped off the public about sinister agenda behind all these terror attacks that happened in the past few months. Their medias have been actively feeding their brainless public with misinformation
if one will review all the acts of terror in this land and link up the close political issues in the country. one can easily conclude that the acts of terror has always diverted the attention of the political crisis. the same pattern for the past 20 years. when Thelka was tabled in the parliament there was on the same day the attack on parliament. Hemant was a man of integrity and loyalty to his job and nation and so also his other colleagues who laid down their lives. they all had political enemies. i cannot fathom how could the terrorist shoot them alone among a crowd of many policemen and others. i am sure as the earlier chief minister of MP Digvijay Singh said once before that these acts of terror are in house creation by the BJP. and this came at the right time when the malegoan blast case is in progress. i am sad for this nation that has power hungry leaders who will do anything to get into power and kill its own people and honest officers.
We salute the Mr. Karkare, a Hero who laid his life for the country. My heart is with his bereaved family.May our Govt provide all the support to his family now and in future.Swaminathan
it is really heartening and overwhelming to see that brave officers like Mr. Karkare-head of ATS, died a heroic death after leading his squad to the uncertain terrotory of the dreaded terrosists and did not hide behind his men. India and Mumbai needs more of such real and commited men to fight back terror!
Dear All,Please dont bring politics into a Martyr's Death.Here is a soul that has departed on the National Duty respect him.May god bring peace to the Departed soul
we all are Indians and any one who acts to devide India is a deshdrohi and should be hanged.But the list of Deshdrohi will be a lomg list.1-Raj who devided india into maharashtra and bihar2-all marathi who support Raj3-All anti indian regional parties.4-All anti indian muslims5-all greedy politicians6-all corrupt policewala