[Reader-list] who says the saffron terror is a myth?

[Subhash]

Aseemanand owns up to strike on Mecca Masjid
Vishwa Mohan & Abantika Ghosh, TNN, Jan 8, 2011, 01.37am IST

NEW DELHI: Aseemanand, the hardline Hindutva swami, has confessed to
his involvement in the terror attack on Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid,
while confirming that bomb attacks on the mosques in Malegaon (in 2006
and 2008) as well as the Samjhauta Express were carried out by Hindu
radicals and he knew about it.

What reportedly led to the confession: the swami was cared for in jail
by a Muslim, who was wrongly arrested in the Mecca Masjid blast,
leading to the act of "atonement".

Aseemanand aka Jatin Chatterjee, born Naba Kumar Sarkar, has linked
Hindu radicals also to the blast in a minority-dominated locality in
Gujarat's Modasa town.

Further, he said RSS leader Indresh Kumar was part of the plan hatched
to avenge bomb attacks on temples, but said that militant Gorakhpur MP
Yogi Adityanath provided no help to one of the accused.

Indresh, Aseemanand claimed, helped enlist members of the saffron
terror plot, including Sunil Joshi and Ramchandra Kalsangra, aka
Ramji. In a statement before a magistrate under Section 164 CrPC
(admissible in a court of law) the swami also identified the group of
radicals who were part of the 'bomb-for-bomb' plan.


He said the Hindu radicals allegedly attacked mosques and the train
carrying Pakistani citizens as part of the 'bomb-for-bomb' plan to
retaliate against jihadi terror.

Before making his confession, Aseemanand reportedly told the
magistrate that he knew he could be sentenced to death but he still
wanted to make the confession because of the arrest of Kaleem, wrongly
it now transpires, for the Mecca Masjid blast. Kaleem's plight
motivated Aseemanand to think of "atonement" so that innocents don't
suffer.

The confession reveals that the network behind saffron terror was far
stronger and motivated, and its reach wider than suspected so far.

It cannot be used as evidence in other cases of alleged saffron terror
since they are being investigated by other agencies. But it can help
with other probes.

Also, it raises serious questions about the course of investigation
into the 2006 Malegaon blast, considering that the Maharasthra ATS and
CBI have already chargesheeted Muslim accused.

According to Aseemanand, the key figures in the Hindutva terror
conspiracy are Joshi (who was allegedly killed by his
co-conspirators), Sandeep Dange and Kalsangra, both of whom are
absconding, and about 10 others who have already been nabbed.

Explaining his motivation, Aseemanand told interrogators that he was
angry by the attacks on Hindu temples by "Muslim terrorists". "This
caused great concern and anger in me. I used to share my concern about
the growing menace of Islamic terorism with Bharat Ritheshwar of
Valsad," he said.

But it was the attack on Varanasi's Sankatmochan temple which proved
to be the last straw for the swami who had so far been known for his
forceful opposition to proselytization by Christian missionaries in
Gujarat's tribal Dangs area.

Interestingly, Aseemanand told the magistrate who recorded his
statement that he decided to confess because of Kaleem, who was his
co-inmate in Chanchalguda prison. Kaleem, a mobile phone seller, had
to spend one-and-a-half years in jail in connection with the Mecca
Masjid blast, a crime which has now been established as the handiwork
of Hindutva radicals. He landed up in the same jail, this time for a
different offence, at a time when Aseemanand was also lodged there.

He took great care of the swami. The gesture moved Aseemanand to such
an extent to make him to atone by way of confession so that the "real
culprits can be punished and no innocent has to suffer".

"During my interaction with Kaleem, I learnt that he was previously
arrested in the Mecca Masjid bomb blast case and he had to spend about
one-and-a-half years in prison. During my stay in jail, Kaleem helped
me a lot and used to serve me by bringing water, food etc for me. I
was very moved by Kaleem's good conduct and my conscience asked me to
do prayaschit (penance) by making confessional statement."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Aseemanand-owns-up-to-strike-on-Mecca-Masjid/articleshow/7238763.cms