Perhaps it was Karkare and his team of ATS officers who were investigating the Malegaon blasts that first recognized the roots of saffron terror gaining ground in the country. The whole team then mysteriously died in an attack by terrorists. Even today, the answer to whether Karkare was killed by internal miscreants or external terrorists is not clear.The reality could be anything, but Karkare and many others with him turned martyrs after exposing the vultures that were gnawing at the soul of the nation.
But despite such truths about national security being threatened through these fundamental organisations coming out in the open, no governments have had the political will power to ban them. This is a big insult to the sacrifice made by Karkare and team in ensuring this investigation unearthed important leads.
Saffron terror allegedly planned and plotted Malegaon, Macca Masjid, Ajmer blasts and Sanjhota Express blasts. Investigations have almost nailed the role of saffron fundamental organisations in this. If serious investigations are carried out, their role in other blasts in the country may also become clear.
Though our country expresses concern about terrorist organisations that are based out of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the government has been strategically silent about saffron terror that has gained massive roots within its precincts. This led to more terror attacks.
Saffron terror organisations began to target those rationalists, thinkers and writers who were sharing rational thinking in the society. Dabholkar, Pansare turned targets to the bullets of saffron terror. After this, writer M M Kalburgi was shot dead. Government continued with its silent concurrence to this. Finally, the blind love exhibited by the government cost the life of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
Since Siddaramaiah was the CM at the time Gauri was shot dead, the investigation was taken up very seriously and with great deal of clarity and honesty. Family members were made to insist that the investigation be handed over to CBI. There was also another aspect to the ‘murderers’ that was floated by those who wanted to derail the investigation. Hence, they said it could be Naxals who killed her. But the officers were never influenced by these hear says. Now, it would be a year since Gauri was killed with bullets and the accused are getting arrested one after another.
After Karkare and team who went into the roots of saffron terror, the only other case that has seen such diligent follow up on the terrorism network is Gauri’s murder case. Her murder not only exposed the accused, but also the ‘Swadesi terrorism’ that has been eating at the very soul of the secular country. The ones who have been arrested are just the foot soldiers of saffron terror. Any punishment to them would not do justice to Gauri. Because the ones who killed her didn’t have any personal hatred towards Gauri. The organisations that put these men on the job nursed deep animosity towards Gauri’s thoughts and rationale. They didn’t kill her alone. They wanted to finish off the total thought process that matched Gauri’s. They wanted to shut the mouth of many Gauris and the thoughts that matched hers. They are nurturing violence in the open. They have a name and identity. The ones who led the boys into killing her are roaming in the open. They have not gone into hiding. They are proud of whatever they did. Unless they are brought to book, the murder investigation of Gauri will never be complete.
Post-independent India stands on the scientific and rational thoughts. Nehru had called the reservoirs as ‘gods’ of the modern nation. The light of scientific thinking had hoped to remove the cobwebs of superstition, blind faith, and illiteracy. As a result of this, country got mega hospitals, organisations dedicated to scientific research like ISRO and others were built. Thinkers and environmentalists of international repute are the pride of our nation. If an organization attacks the thought process of this country, it means the attack is on the very roots of the nation. This is against the nation’s interest. They are anti-national activities. Hence the nation should understand the need to identify and ban the organisations that have had a role in murders of Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri.
Anti-democratic forces are slowly spreading their tentacles in the country. They are going to mislead further generations into wrong thinking. Hence, all the progressive forces need to come together to safeguard the future of our young generation, hold the country together and spread awareness about the core of this nation – our democracy. This is the real tribute we can offer to Pansare, Dabholkar, Kalburgi and Gauri.
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Lahore, Jan 22 (PTI): At least 17,000 security personnel would be deployed for the ICC Champions Trophy matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from February 19.
According to sources, the Punjab government has started preparations to provide security round the clock for the participating teams, covering the team hotel as well as the match venues in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“The Punjab government will deploy some 12,500 officers and other security personnel for the matches and for the teams,” an official said.
He added that 7,600 police and security personnel including special commandos will be on duty for matches in Lahore, while 4,500 officers, including 411 from the Special Branch, will oversee security in Rawalpindi.
The official said that snipers and aerial monitoring will be carried out during the tournament with support from the Army if required.
He said the paramilitary Rangers personnel would be on active duty with the police.
In Karachi, a spokesperson for the Sindh police said that the commissioner had already held meetings to oversee security arrangements for the matches at the National Stadium.
“Plans are being drawn up and at least 5000 or more security personnel including units of the Sindh police would be deployed for the matches, on routes and at team hotels.”
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 but staged only four games with all the other matches held in Sri Lanka after India refused to send its team to Pakistan which they have also done for the Champions Trophy.
This time the PCB will be hosting a minimum of 11 Champions Trophy matches and perhaps even the final and before that it will host New Zealand and South Africa in a short tri-series in Lahore and Karachi. India will their games in Dubai.
Karachi will not only host the opening match of the Champions Trophy on February 19 but also two games of the tri-series on February 12 and 14.