Activist’s letter spoke of ‘Rajiv Gandhi-like’ event: Cops

There is “conclusive proof” to link the arrested activists to Maoists, police on Friday said, adding a letter exchanged by an arrested activist spoke of planning a “Rajiv Gandhi-like incident to end Modi-raj”.

An email letter between Rona Wilson and a CPIMaoist leader speaks of ending "Modi-raj" with a “Rajiv Gandhi-type incident”, Maharashtra police additional director general (law and order) Parambir Singh told reporters here.

Human rights activist Rona Jacob Wilson was arrested from Delhi in June in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence in Maharashtra in January this year.

The letter also mentioned that Rs 8 crore were needed for procuring grenade launchers, he said.

Police have seized "thousands of letters" exchanged between the overground and the underground of Maoists, the police officer said.

“The letter written by Rona to Maoist leader “Comrade Prakash” said: We have received your last letter regarding current situation here. Arun (Ferreira), Vernon (Gonsalves) and others are equally concerned about the urban front struggle,” he said.

“The letter also spoke of requirement of Rs 8 crore for annual supply of grenade launcher with four lakh rounds,” he said.

The letter asked Prakash to convey his decision, Singh said. “Comrade Kisan and a few other comrades have proposed concrete steps to end Modi raj. We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi (assassination)-like incident,” Singh quoted the letter as saying.

Some of the letters exchanged between the arrested activists spoke of planning “some big action” which would attract attention, Singh said.

Delhi University professor G N Saibaba was arrested in 2014 on basis of similar evidence, including letters, he said. On the arrests of activists with alleged links to Maoists in June and earlier this week, the police officer said, “Police only moved to take action against these people when we were confident that clear links have been established

between these overground activists and underground Maoists."

"The evidence in our possession clearly establishes their (arrested activists') links with Maoists, Singh said. Information obtained after seizure of such letters and other items shows the involvement of "overground" Maoist cadres in planning subversive acts, he said.

The central committee of Maoists communicated with these activists through password protected messages sent via courier, he added.

After the Elgaar Parishad at Pune on December 31, a case was registered by police on January 8 about the event where hate speeches were delivered, he said. Most of them (who allegedly delivered the hate speeches) were associated with Kabir Kala Manch, he said.

“Our investigation revealed that a big conspiracy was being plotted by Maoist organisations and the accused were helping them to take their goals forward,” Singh said.

On April 17, raids were conducted at six places, based on the information available, he said. The raids were videographed and there was proper "panchnama", he added.

On May 17, sections under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were evoked against the activists, he said.

Seized letters show Rao’s role: Police

The Maharashtra Police on Friday claimed that letters seized from one of the persons arrested for alleged Maoist links in June this year show that Telugu poet Varavara Rao played a role in weapon procurement.

Rao and four others were arrested by Pune Police on August 28 following raids at houses of several Left-wing activists across the country.

A letter recovered from the laptop of Rona Wilson, who was arrested in June, speaks about procurement of arms and ammunition, said Param Bir Singh, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, here.

“I have been in touch with designated contact in Nepal (for weapon procurement). Our comrades in Manipur can also assist in this. But, only V V (Varavara Rao) is authorised to communicate with them,” Singh said, quoting one of the purportedly seized letter.

“It would benefit us to fast track the process and get equipments ready on ground. We are losing dozens and dozens of comrades in encounters in different states,” the letter, allegedly written by Wilson to “comrade Prakash” said.

Surendra Gadling (arrested in June) and Rao felt the need to inflict heavy casualties on “enemy”, something which the Maoists had not been able to do since 2013, ADG Singh claimed, quoting the letter.

Some activists held meetings abroad

Some of the Left-wing activists arrested on suspicion of Maoists links held meetings abroad and were in touch with organisations there, Maharashtra police said Friday.

There is a reference to the meetings in Paris and some other countries in the letters recovered from activists arrested in June and this week , Additional Director General (Law and Order) Param Bir Singh told reporters here.

“They were also in touch with (similar) organisations of the other countries and were co-ordinating with them to highlight (their issues),” he said.

The letters mention “meetings of philosophers” held in France and the US, he said. He did not mention the timeframe of any of the meetings held abroad.

A letter written by Maoist functionary Comrade Prakash to activist Anand Teltumbde mentions the need to highlight the issue (Koregoan-Bhima violence) at international level, he said.

“Many like-minded activists and groups joined forces with us to highlight the oppression of Dalits and minorities,” a letter by Prakash said.