Man held by ATS ‘Mechanic’ in diary of key suspect, finds probe
Gauri Lankesh murder case
Bengaluru : Automobile mechanic Vasudev Suryavanshi, 29, who was arrested on Sunday by Maharashtra ATS for alleged links with a radical Hindutva group involved in the accumulation of illegal arms, has been identified as an individual referred to as “Mechanic’’ in the diary of a key suspect in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
Sources in the Karnataka Police SIT probing the murder case said an automobile mechanic arrested by the ATS has been identified as “Mechanic’’ in the diary of Amol Kale, alleged to be a key leader of a secretive Hindutva group with links to right-wing Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. He has been identified as one of dozens of youths who received training in using guns at camps in Karnataka and Maharashtra and was involved in activities of the group, the sources said.
“Mechanic’’ has been described by other suspects as being adept at stealing motorcycles and authorities are investigating if Suryavanshi was used in any way by the covert group for murders of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Leftist thinker Govind Pansare, Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi and Lankesh, said sources.
References in the diary of Kale, who was arrested in May, and the investigation of persons allegedly involved in providing arms training for the group suggest that one “Mechanic’’ attended an arms training camp conducted by the group around three years ago. The ATS arrested Suryavanshi from Jalgaon as part of its investigation into an alleged terror plot by right-wing outfits.
A diary maintained by Kale, a former HJS convenor from Pune, has been a key guide for the SIT in unraveling the criminal activities of the covert right-wing group. In the course of its investigation into Lankesh’s murder, the SIT has found that Kale gave members of the group nicknames to protect their real identities, sources said.
“Once we are sure that a youth is suited to be a part of our activities we provide them with a mobile phone to be used for exclusive communication with us and we designate a code name for the youth,’’ Sujeet Kumar, 38, a former HJS activist and a recruiter for the covert group, told the SIT after his arrest in May.
courtesy : indianexpress.com
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Sambhal violence: Protesters to pay for damage to property, posters of 'stone pelters' to be put up
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government will make protesters involved in the Sambhal violence pay for damage to public property while posters of "stone pelters" will be displayed at public places, an official said on Wednesday.
Four people died and scores, including police personnel, were injured in Sambhal on Sunday after a confrontation erupted over a court-ordered survey of the city's Shahi Jama Masjid in Kot Garvi area, following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site.
"The UP government is adopting a firm stance against the individuals involved in the Sambhal violence. Posters of the stone pelters and miscreants will be displayed publicly, and recovery of damages will be sought. A reward may also be announced for information leading to their arrest," an official spokesperson said.
In a similar initiative, the government had previously put up posters of individuals linked to vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in 2020. These posters were displayed across several locations, including the state capital, but were later removed following a court order.
The violence in Sambhal erupted on Sunday when a large crowd gathered near a mosque and began chanting slogans as a survey team resumed its work. The situation escalated when the protesters clashed with security personnel, set vehicles on fire, and pelted stones.
So far, police have arrested 25 individuals and registered seven FIRs, which include charges against Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Sohail Iqbal, son of the party's local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, and over 2,750 unidentified suspects.
A magisterial probe is underway, and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi stated on Monday that the situation was now under control. He assured that "strict action will be taken against those responsible for the unrest."
