Startling revelations; Pune Police claim activist Gautam Navlakha had connections with Hizbul Mujahideen, Kashmiri separatists

Mumbai, July 25: Startling revelations coming its way, the Pune Police claimed that the arrested Left-wing activist Gautam Navlakha and Naxalite groups he is allegedly associated with were in touch with Islamist terror group Hizbul Mujahideen as well as Kashmiri separatists. Navlakha is facing a case over connections with Naxalite groups.

 

Gautam Navlakha was charged under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and had received protection from arrest till 23 July by the court. On Wednesday, it was extended till further orders by a division bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre.

Pune police claimed that the inflammatory speeches made at Elgar Parishad conclave on 31 December 2017 led to the violence near Bhima Koregaon war memorial next day, and that the conclave was supported by Maoists. The counsel of Pune police Aruna Pai said that some of the documents seized from the laptops of Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling showed that Navlakha had conducted ‘bilateral talks’ with Hizbul leaders.

“He has been liaising with banned terrorist organisations including Hizbul Mujahideen since 2011,” she said, adding that between 2011 and 2014, Navlakha ha also been in touch with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shakil Bakshi.

Activists Gautam Navlakha, along with a few other activists, is facing a case for alleged links with Naxals. He moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR against him. The Pune Police told the court that the failure to arrest the Bhima-Koregaon violence accused Navlakha is creating a hindrance in their investigation.