In a shocking revelation, Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday informed a city court that slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta Dabholkar and NCP legislator Jitendra Awhad, were among the persons who were on the hit-list of the right-wing activists arrested recently in connection with an uncovered terror conspiracy to trigger blasts in five towns cities of the State.
The State ATS made a disclosure to this effect, while seeking the extension of the custody of arrested activist Avinsh Pawar’s custody, before the court of Sessions Judge Vinod Padalkar. The judge extended the custody of Pawar till September 4.
Among other things, the ATS told the court that Pawar had carried out the reconnisance of several persons targetted for speaking against the Hindu religion.
Apart from Mukta Dabholkar and Awhad, the others who were on the hit-list of the rightp-wing activists included All India Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti President Shyam Manav and activist Ritu Raje.
Pawar, an employee with a state-run ship-building company, was arrested late on the night of August 17, for his alleged role in the terror conspiracy that the ATS busted this month..
Pawar is the fifth arrested accused in the terror conspiracy case. Earlier on August 9, the ATS had arrested three right wing activists —Vaibhav Raut (40), Sharad Kalaskar (25), Sudhnava Ghondhalekar (39) and claimed to have foiled their attempts to engineer terror attacks in Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Solapur and Nala Sopara. Subsequently, the ATS arrested and Shiv Sena’s former corporator Shrikant Pangarkar for his alleged role in the conspiracy.
During Friday’s hearing, the Judge pulled up the ATS for not submitting full details or the case diary. He said that there were several loose ends in the case.
"Do not come to the court half-heartedly...The court cannot compromise on the rights of the accused," Judge Padalkar told the ATS’ officers and its lawyer.
An educationalist, Mukta was on the hit-list of the right-wing activists as she along with her brother has been rooting for justice ever since her 69-year-old rationalist and anti-superstition activist-father Narendra Dabholkar was shot from a point blank range, while the latter was taking a morning walk on the Omkareshwar bridge located in the heart of Pune, on August 20, 2013.
Prof Manav, founder of All India Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, was a one-time associate of late Dabholkar. He has also been speaking against superstitious practices and had spoken the activities of the right-wing organisations.
Awhad, the third person on the right-wing activists’ hit, is a senior MlA and a former Minister in the previous Congress-NCP Democratic Front government.