Maharashtra Police ADG (Law and Order) Param Bir Singh, with Pune's Additional CP Shivaji Bodke (L), during in... Read More

MUMBAI: The Pune police claimed on Friday that it had evidence to prove that the five human rights activists arrested on Tuesday for alleged Maoist links were planning “a Rajiv Gandhi-like incident”.

At a press conference, Maharashtra ADG Parambir Singh said some of them were involved in organising funding and weapons for the Maoists, he said. Earlier in June, activists including Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawle, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut and academician Shoma Sen were arrested, all of them under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

“We have collected material evidence, including letters which show they incited the Koregaon Bhima riots and were also conspiring to overthrow the government. There is also mention of a Rajiv Gandhi-style assassination attempt,” said Singh. In some letters given to the media, both the activists and purported Maoist leaders are addressed only by first names.

Singh quoted a letter he claimed was written by Maoist leader Prakash to “Comrade Rona”. He claimed the letter, dated July 2017, said: “I hope you by now have received the details of meeting and requirement of 8 crores for annual supply of M4 with 4 lakhs of rounds (referring to arms). Please convey your decision… Comrade Kishan and few others have proposed concrete steps to end Modi raj.We are thinking of another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident.”

Singh said there was proof to show the groups had received funds worth Rs 15 lakh from Maoist leaders. He quoted a letter addressed by a purported Maoist leader to “Comrade Rona”, which says two rounds of funds had been sent to Com Sudhir and that Com Shoma and Com Surendra had been authorised to give funds for future events. “We’ve collected enough proof in the form of letters, emails, password-coded letters, computers, laptops and mobiles. We have sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory,” said Singh.

Then, he read a letter he claimed was written by Sudha Bhardwaj, in which she is seemingly seeking funds from Maoist leader Prakash.

“Comrade Prashant Chauhan has returned with operation successfully and as per promise we have to reward him and my 21 years old daughter is suffering from illness and I need funds. JNU and TISS students have to be sent to interiors for which I need funds urgently,” Singh claimed the letter said.

Two other letters are addressed to “Com Gautamji” and “Com Anand”, whom Singh identified as management professor and Dalit writer Anand Teltumbde, whose home was raided earlier this week. He claimed it shows Maoists funding his rights convention.

