highly irresponsible and outrageous statement" of union minister for minorities

Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD), an organisation of minorities, has expressed its shock over "the highly irresponsible and outrageous statement" of union minister for minorities, AR Antulay, in which he insinuated that there was a conspiracy behind the killing of Hemant Karkare, chief of anti-terrorism squad (ATS). Karkare was killed during the terror attack on November 26, on the lane leading to Cama Hospital from CST station. Antulay hinted that Karkare's killing was the handiwork of Hindu extremist groups in collusion with their sympathisers in the force. Karkare was killed along with additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist, Vijay Salaskar. "This is a malicious and insensitive slander of the Mumbai police and the ATS," said a spokesperson of MSD. The world is convinced on the basis of evidences provided by the Indian government that the terrorists responsible for 26/11 came from Pakistan and belonged to Lashkar-e-Tayiba, a statement signed by Javed Akhtar, Sajid Rashid and Javed Anand, of MSD, said. "That is why there is a demand from governments all over the world that the Pakistan government act firmly and swiftly against the Pakistan-based perpetrators of terror. Not surprisingly, the Pakistan government is dragging its feet claiming it has yet to be shown incontrovertible evidence," the statement said. It added, "Very surprisingly, and shockingly, Antulay, a minister in the Union cabinet, has similar doubts." They said, "Since 26/11, Indian Muslims have joined all fellow-Indians and spoken in one voice denouncing the attack on India in the strongest words. They have unanimously declared that mass murderers cannot be Muslims even if they have Muslim names." Antulay's outrageous statement is a gross violation of the sentiment of national unity and amity, they said. The statement said Antulay owed an apology to the Mumbai police, to all citizens of India and to Indian Muslims in particular. MSD expected Antulay "to assume responsibility for his outrage and immediately tender his resignation from the Union government". Antulay's allegation not borne out by facts 19 Dec 2008, 0415 hrs IST, S Ahmed Ali & Mateen Hafeez, TNN MUMBAI: The events of 26/11 night that claimed the lives of three of Mumbai's top cops refute the Union minorities affairs minister A R Antulay's conspiracy theory. Here's what happened that night. Around 9.45pm, the city police control room flashed a message saying there was a terror attack at CST railway station. Within minutes, the road outside the station was deserted. Not even policemen on duty, most of whom were armed with only lathis, were ready to go to the spot. Hemant Karkare, then ATS chief, reached CST from his Dadar residence, and donned a helmet and bullet-proof jacket. Additional DGP (Railways) K P Raghuvanshi also joined him. But, while Raghuvanshi stayed back, Karkare, along with his four policemen, first went to the CST station's platform number 1 (opposite Anjuman-e-Islam School) and found it deserted, with no trace of any terrorists. "A fellow policeman informed them that the terrorists were spotted walking towards (the nearby) Cama Hospital," said city police commissioner Hasan Gafoor. Meanwhile, Karkare received a wireless message, saying, "Additional police commissioner Sadanand Date is injured at Cama Hospital. A bodyguard is seriously injured, while another constable is dead." Karkare, accompanied by the four constables, made for Cama Hospital, while the Z-security guards were instructed to take position outside the TOI building. The team moved cautiously towards Cama and tried to get a clear idea of what was happening. "Later, inspector Vijay Salaskar and additional commissioner Ashok Kamte, who met at CST, arrived on the scene. Salaskar was accompanied by five of his subordinates," said Akhtar Shaikh, Kakare's orderly, who was present along with Karkare that night. "As we headed towards the rear entrance of Cama Hospital, we heard gunshots. Kamte returned the fire, and the terrorists threw a grenade at us, but it fell within the hospital premises," said Shaikh. Inspector Nitin Alaknure, Salaskar's colleague, said, "Karkare, Kamte and Salaskar were discussing their next step. Kamte then suggested they enter the hospital from the main gate. They got into a police Qualis stationed there, and later, as they approached the special branch, Salaskar took over the driver's seat," Alaknure recalled. Salaskar ordered his two constables to take position at the rear gate, while Karkare's four constables were assigned to take position at the other gates. They got a wireless message that the terrorists were hiding behind a red vehicle near Rang Bhavan. They started looking for the red vehicle and suddenly spotted one terrorist, who was later identified as Mohammad Ajmal Kasab. Kamte and Salaskar opened fire," said crime branch chief Rakesh Maria. The officers were about to get down from the vehicle when all of a sudden, another terrorist showered bullets from his AK-47, injuring all the cops. Kamte and Karkare died on the spot. The terrorists then threw the three policemen out of the car, and hijacked the vehicle. It was Arun Jadhav, the lone survivor, who later informed the control room about the incident. Meanwhile, police officials across ranks expressed shock over the Union minister's controversial statement. No senior official would come on record to speak out against Antulay's innuendo, indicating how the police brass was scared to respond to a politician's rant. But officer after officer, off the record, said it was sad to see politicians could stoop so low as to use even a national tragedy for their own political advantage. Though city police commissioner Hasan Gafoor refused to comment, another officer said politicians should be speaking about measures to tackle terrorism insisted of making controversial statements in Parliament. However, former intelligence chief V N Deshmukh said he had visited the spot where the shootout (which claimed Karkare's and cops' lives) happened. "I spoke to several witnesses and officers. I am convinced it was not a conspiracy," he said.