‘Rajiv Gandhi-Type Incident’: Cops Find Email with Plan to Kill PM
Two other letters from Maoist organisations threatening CM Fadnavis and his family were allegedly sent.
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A letter allegedly intercepted by Pune Police from a suspected CPI(Maoist), submitted to a court on Thursday, 7 June, talks about a plan to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident.”
On Friday, 8 June, Maharashtra home ministry sources claimed that there could be threat to CM Fadnavis’s life after two letters were allegedly received at Mantralaya from a Maoist organisation threatening the chief minister.
The letter comes after the arrest of Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, lawyer Surendra Gadling, activists Mahesh Raut and Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson from Mumbai, Nagpur and Delhi respectively in connection with 'Elgar Parishad' held in Pune in December and the subsequent Bhima-Koregaon violence in the district.
All five were produced before the sessions court today which remanded them in police custody till 14 June.
"We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi incident. It sounds suicidal and there is a chance that we might fail but party must deliberate on our proposal," Pawar quoted the letter as saying.
Seeking their remand, Pawar told Judge AS Bhailsare, that documents seized also showed that preparation for the Elgar Parishad – which police believe was backed and funded by the Maoists – was going on for two months, reported PTI.
Security Beefed Up For CM Fadnavis
The letters threatening CM Devendra Fadnavis and his family have led to the Maharashtra security forces beefing up the chief minister’s security.
According to an India Today report, the letter in question talks about the Gadchiroli encounters in April where at least 37 Maoists were killed.
The letter allegedly said that “killing of few comrades will not stop the revolution”, reported India Today.
Speaking to ANI, Fadnavis said he trusts the police will take adequate action to protect his and his family’s lives.
Politicians React to Letter Threatening Modi
PM Modi's Old Tactic: Sanjay Nirupam
Reacting to the email posing a threat to PM Modi’s life, Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam questioned the authenticity of the letter and told ANI, “I am not saying this is completely untrue but it has been PM Modi's old tactic, since he was CM, whenever his popularity declines, news of an assassination plot is planted. So it should be probed how much truth is in it this time.”
Serious About PM’s Security: Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is serious about the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We are always serious about the prime minister's security. The Maoists are fighting a losing battle. They are now active only in 10 districts in the country," he told a press conference here after a two-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir.
Cops Present Another Letter Seized from Bhima-Koregaon Violence Suspects
Quoting another letter allegedly seized from Wilson's house, Pawar said, "The higher Committee has appreciated the endearing efforts of all urban comrades for the specific tasks given to them... there is a lot of ground to be covered. Comrade Mangalu and Deepu have been coordinating the Koregaon programme (for) last two months with Comrade Sudhir.
"They have been able to gather support from the larger sections of Dalits across the state," Pawar quoted the letter as saying.
Evidence also showed that funds were provided by the CPI (Maoist) to "comrade Sudhir" for Koregaon Bhima "task" and "Comrade Shoma and Surendra" were authorised to provide funds for future programs, the prosecutor said, as per the PTI report.
In one of the letters from one Prakash to Wilson, it is stated that the Bhima Koregaon agitation was losing its steam, and cadres should keep it alive, Pawar said.
She also claimed that an investigation revealed that senior Maoist leaders were asking lower-rung cadres to target and recruit "intelligent" students from "renowned" institutes.
Lawyers of Accused Say Documents “Fabricated”
The lawyers of the accused said the documents cited by the prosecution were fabricated, and the accused have been framed, reported PTI.
One of the defence lawyers pointed out that while police invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against the five accused, the stringent law was not applied against right-wing activists Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, who are accused of inciting anti-Dalit violence at Bhima Koregaon on 1 January.
Earlier in the day, Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Kadam told reporters that a letter allegedly seized from Wilson's house had been sent by fugitive Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde.
(With PTI inputs)
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