Extremist Hindu groups' role in terror attacks? Karkare showed me evidence: Ribeiro

Hemant Karkare

Veteran supercop Julio Ribeiro, a known expert on terrorism, in a signed article on June 27, 2015, had warned that "going slow on ‘Hindu terror’ is dangerous", adding, "It’s also an insult to the memory of Hemant Karkare". Ribeiro said this even as recalling his meeting with Karkare one day before the latter was killed by terrorists in 2008 fighting in Mumbai.
Ribeiro said, Karkare "was disturbed by the reactions of some BJP leaders, particularly LK Advani, to the turn his investigations had taken in the 2008 Malegaon blast case."
Ribeiro, who describes the martyr "an outstanding IPS officer of impeccable integrity as well as high intelligence and abilities", says that the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which Karkare headed at that time, had "initially suspected jihadi fanatics."
Ribeiro said, "Such thoughts would come naturally to any policeman those days as Muslim groupings like Simi had been responsible for several terrorist acts across the country."
He added, "But the ATS had suddenly, unexpectedly and, I must add, fortuitously come across incontrovertible evidence, which included taped conversations, to prove that the Malegaon blasts, as well as the Ajmer, Hyderabad and Samjhauta Express blasts that killed nearly a hundred people, were conceived, planned and executed by a group of fanatical Hindus bent on revenge."
Calling Karkare as one officer who was guided by the "lofty ideal" that politics, religion, caste, community have "no role to play in the pursuit of truth and justice", Ribeiro said, "I went through some of the evidence he had gathered. I was staggered."

Rohini Salian

"I could understand the anger that prompted the perpetrators to embark on their misconceived journey. But a police officer has to do his duty, which is to stick to the truth and the letter of the law. I advised Karkare to abide by his 'dharma'," Ribeiro recalled.
"Unfortunately, Ajmal Kasab and his brainwashed companions snuffed out the life of a good man. Karkare was not around to pursue the case but his successors carried on the investigations and filed the charge sheet against the real culprits in court", Ribeiro said.

The article, written in the wake of the fears of public prosecutor Rohini Salian, who stated that NIA may renegade on the persecution of the Hindutva terrorists, Ribeiro commented: "Salian is a legend in the world of public prosecutors. Every policeman knows her name. So do the lawyers and judges of the city of Mumbai. She is single-minded in her commitment to her duties and, above all, everyone knows that she cannot be bought."
"Salian’s lament on being asked to go soft on Hindu extremists accused of terrorist acts frightens us to believe that the country is steadily being led on to the path trodden by our surly neighbour on our western border. The masterminds of the 26/11 attacks are treated like heroes in Pakistan", said Ribeiro.

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