Urban Naxals fueled #BhimaKoregaon riots; 7 suspected Maoists arrested in Mumbai by ATS
Mumbai, January 14: It was being suspected that the urban naxals were behind inflaming the Bhima-Koregaon violence. This is confirmed as the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police has arrested seven suspected Maoists, working for the Golden Corridor Committee, formed to spread their ideology in Maharashtra and Gujarat, officials said today.
The arrests were made after raids were conducted in the eastern suburbs of the city late last night.
The ATS has seized banners related to the Bhima Koregaon event held recently to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune district were seized from two of the accused, sources said. The ATS will also find out if the arrested accused were involved in the violence in Mumbai and suburbs.
"Based on specific information in connection with the movements of members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), the Kalachowki unit of the ATS initially nabbed one suspect from the Kalyan railway station yesterday," one ATS official told PTI.
On 12/1/2018 , ATS received highly reliable information about one Naxal cadre coming to Kalyan station. A team was rushed to Kalyan and on confirmation from the informer, alleged naxalite was picked up for enquiry. As he didn't provide convincing answers to our queries, he was brought for detailed/sustained enquiry during which he revealed that he and his colleagues from Kamraj Nagar, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar & Vikroli area are working for the organisation called CPI(Maoist) which is banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) amended from time to time. Immediately, several teams were formed and searches of the houses of stated associates were conducted in presence of panchas, during which incriminating documents related to the banned organisation were found.
It was revealed that the main accused and his colleagues are active members of the proscribed organization.
Accordingly, an offence vide CR No 2/18 U/s 20,38,39 UAPA is registered at ATS Kalachouki P.S.
Following persons have been arrested in the crime.
1) 40 yrs old Male accused R/0 Nalgonda Telangana currently at Mumbai
2) 40yrs Male accused, R/o Karimnagar, Telngana presently at Kamrajnagar, Mumbai
3) 52yrs, R/o Nalgonda, Telangana presently at Vikroli (E)
4) 40yrs R/o Nalgonda Telangana presently at Kamrajnagar
5) 40 yrs Male accused R/o Karimnagar, Telangana presently at Ramabai Ambedkar Ngr, Mumbai
6) 30 yrs Male R/ o Nalgonda presently at Kamrajnagar
7) 37 yrs Male accused R/o Nalgonda Telangana presently at Dombiwali(E).
It may be recollected that the Maoists have declared parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat as Golden Corridor for propagation of their ideology and spread of their movement in the industrial belt. It is revealed that the arrested main accused and his accomplice have been working for golden corridor committee and were in touch with LWE cadres from forest divisions.
All the above accused have been remanded to Police Custody till 16th Jan.
During interrogation, he revealed he and his colleagues from the Kamraj Nagar, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Vikhroli areas of suburban Mumbai were working for the CPI(Maoist).
The ATS formed special teams and raids were carried out in Ramabai Nagar, Kamraj Nagar and Vikhroli, during which seven Maoists were arrested. All the arrested persons were from Telangana and working for the CPI(Maoist), he said.
An offence under sections 20, 38, 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered at ATS Kalachowki and a probe is underway.
The arrested persons were produced before the court, which sent them to ATS custody till January 16, the official said.
"Maoists have declared parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat as Golden Corridor for the propagation of their ideology and spread of their movement in the industrial belt," he said.
During the investigation, it came to light that the arrested main accused and his accomplices had been working for the Golden Corridor Committee and were in touch with Left Wing Extremism cadres from the forest divisions, he said.