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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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With Hemant Karkare death Truth has been buried,may god rest his soul in peace
It is surprising to see to high ranking police officers were in the frontline of a well planned terrorist attack without bullet proof vest, helmet and sophisticated weapons. Was ATS busy showing osbsene CD and torturing a decorated army officer forgeting to collecting intelligence on a inpending attack. Mumbai train blast of 2006, killed 200 innocent people and injured 800. What happened to that investigation. Malegaon blast killed 6 and injured 11 people and the entire ATS is busy conducting narco analysis forgetting their role in prevention of terrorism. Remenber, Abdul Telgi had revealed during narco analysis of Maharastra and some Karnataka congress leaders. No action was taken againt them. Can IE update the people on this.
TOMORROW 7 AM MORNING THE THREE S SHOULD RESIGN. SONIA SINGH SHIVARAJ IF THEY HAVE ONE MORE S THAT IS SPINE THEY SHOULD ATTACK KARACHI AT 8 AM TOMORROW
TOMORROW 7 AM MORNING THE THREE S SHOULD RESIGN. SONIA SINGH SHIVARAJ IF THEY HAVE ONE MORE S THAT IS SPINE THEY SHOULD ATTACK KARACHI AT 8 AM TOMORROW
Give Bhratratna to this GREATEST SOUL OF INDIA who died fighting terror in our own Mumbi. Let s start a campaign to this purpose, pls join fellow countrymen.
Why were the main ATS person leading the charge in the first place? As noble as it sounds, it's mind numbingly stupidity like this that really make you wonder about our leadership. Did the pressure he faced with the Malegaon blast investigation influence his decision making? Maybe. I'm sorry for the loss of his life and for his family. But we could have used a man of his calibre to lead the investigation of these attacks. Let's leave the bollywood heroics on the screen.
why cant the indian government find some solution to attack the teror by finding a fully coverd dress where not even a bullet hit or enter to the hand , face , head if they found like this dress including the bullet proof jacket , the police men like Mr.karkare s will not be dead, indians will not afraid for any thing but the suddent enter of terors the should have like this dress sure we wont lose any of heros like mr karkare and other police officers who all ways for us.... let we all pray for a peace full sole for the 125 peoples killed by terors , and when the terrorism on only the government alerting the state and country or else they never being alert ,if we keep regular alert it will not happen again
if we lost this gentlemen(sir karkare) ,is cos of these cowards politicians who forgoted to take the right decision,these navy gaurds who are good enough to protect our motherland,these customs officers ,who are corrupted untill the last,these policemen who forgoted to do thier job correctly???? I TELL SHAME ON THESE CULPRITS AND COWARDS AND I THANK ARMY COMMANDERS AND ASI
ATS chief was a Great man, what a great loss. Someone mentioned about salaries. it does not matter; one cannot away greed from a man. look at the banking and failing corporation around the world. indians have to instill indian values and go back to its grass root idealogy. and should stop immitating the west.
I am sorry to say this about a deceased officer. In my opinion, Mr Karkare had the responsibility to protect himself and his senior staff from these two-bit terrorists by staying out of harm's way. It is very demoralizing to the rank and file of ATS when the senior leadership is wiped out in the first few minutes of the battle. In chess, it is like sacrificing your queen to a pawn in the third move of the game. Indian security agencies cannot let this happen.
To the departed soul of Hemant Karkare Your sacrifice for us shall open our eyes realize that gallant men keep serving and get martyred for the nation's sake however corrupt the bureaucracy may have become however ungrateful the people may remain however cyncial the politicians to their worst will degenerate Your have lit a light in our hearts That will dispel the clouds of darknesses of pussilanimity and cowardice A light that hs given us inspiration and an ideal for the nation We are proud of you and will remain grateful to you and your family forever, forever Our immense feelings of loss are our condolences Our silence of minutes is our tribute You are immortalized in our hearts forever, forever, forever
Seeing all the footage Mr. Karkere died in unprofessional manner. I saw police men without bullet proof jackets and matching weapons. Life of jawans is not so cheat in comparesation with bullet proof Jackets etc.
Indeed sad to lose these men who meant lot to the Mumbai Police. But the moot question is, were they actually 'encounter specialists', or just more thanm ordinary policemen, who encountered untrained anti social elements. they should have been more careful and not casual as they looked on the TV footages. Also some things better be handled by the Army
Who knows media may even come up with story Sadvi and Purohit escaped from judicial custody by druging the police infested the terrorists and killed Karkare.Oh my God the (in)secular media the way they are appeasing minority. Why uniform civil code? There is not even Uniform criminal Code in this country.torturing a woman in illegal detention maligning the military decorated officer, Oh my God only god has to save this country from terrorists and the so called (in)secular media.
we lost the real hero.We need people like karkare and not like thakre to maintain the unity and integrity of India.Leaders come and leadrs go but the officials maintain the concept of the people in the constitutional authority.Mumbai attack is not a new earlier also it was attacked by Thakre and its googda elements when the north-indians were beaten. We are the country to face such like threat with courage. We cant be destroyed by outsiders,be aware of our own people.
A sad demise of a brave police officer.Condolences to his family will hardly compensate the loss.There are some important questions which need to be answered.Why is it necessary for the police to brief the press ? Is it not police becoming vulnerable to politics by doing so ? The police officers comes to limelight and becomes a prime target.Wish it stops immidiately.
I offer my prayers that his soul rest in peace and condolences to his immediate family members. But why this top policeman of intelligence wing feel interferance of politicians. Any poor citzen of india knows police and politicians are one and same. He is a product of this regime in the difficulties that common faces.Will this be a good lesson to see that police men are organised with good salaries and do not simply go with the dictates of politicians but serve the people? If this achieved his sacrifice can be the consolation to the family.
I am crying too much about Mr.Hemant karkare, he was real hero of the nation. The way he's gone from us, we missed something for nation and like Mr.karkare we will not get in future.Dear Mr.Hemant karkare Sir, I salutes you, for the real hero of nation.
I am watching this incident in Bombay and at the same time, I became inquisitive about an incident, which occurred on Sept 29, 2008, known “Malegaon Blast.” In that case, an Indian Army Lt. Col. was involved with Hindu Fundamentalist activities. He is under arrest and the person who was conducting the case, Mr. Hemant Karkare of Maharashtra - ATS (Anti Terrorist Squad) has been killed along with two other high-ranking police officers in this Bombay shooting. That Lt. Col. had several meeting in one private military school, which is run by RSS prior to this “Malegaon Blast.” ATS was closing in on several high profile RSS/VHP and some Hindu spiritual leaders; one of them is already in custody. I think killing of Mr. Karkare is a part of wide range conspiracy it should raise some eyebrows. It could be those so-called Islamic fundamentalist but involvement of RSS/VHP or Hindutva should not go without a proper investigation. Something big happened to cover up some thing even bigger.
Hats off to the entire team of ATS and other forces of the nation for the act of bravery shown in tackling the situation. Why dont these politicians and leaders join the squad for saving the country rather than commenting and politicicing the sensitive issue. This is the time to hang up politics and strengthen the very basic fabric of thenation. Terrorists have no relegion, caste or creed but we as Indians have an identity irrespective of all these things. So gentleman join hands to save the nation not the Hot seat of Politics . My whole family pays tribute to the brave soldiers and my heart goes out to the berieved families.
This reporter has drawn a very lovable yet sentimental picture of karkare. We all are sad and deeply anguished by his death. However, certain facts cannot be brushed aside simply because they are pointed out by the Sangh parivar. The ill-treatment meted out to Pragya is typically Indian police and Karkare is responsible and accountable for it. That he allowed his department to be guided by the likes of Deshmukh and R.R.Patil, who are actually the scum of the earth and did all that they bade him to do is a sad commentary on the performance of an otherwise dedicated and conscientious officer.
May this brave man's soul rest in peace and my heart felt condelances to the family members of this hero who has shown the dirty politicians as to what is patriotism and bravery. We Indians must feel proud of such officers who are risking their lives for the sake of their country. My request to the politicians is that please donn't politicise this grave crime in the name of religion and petty party politics. We the Indians sha;; stand united to oppose such dastardly act of terrorism.
Salute to one of the bravest sons produced by our motherland!!! Long live his memories!!
Heartfelt salutations to the brave cop who lead his team from the front. Deep condolences to his family whose loss is unfathomable. Its a loss to the entire nation.
Extremely saddening.Mr. Karkare's death is unjustified and offering condolences and help to the family is not enough. much more is required to be contributed by the society and a sense of awareness of whats happening in India and where it is going to lead us amongst the youth, the huge and growing political influence on every aspect in society..is there ever going to be an end to all this?