Exclusive | Bhima Koregaon case: 8 letters reveal links between activists, Naxals, Kashmiri separatists, Congress
The Supreme Court has sent the five accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case to house arrest till September 6, when the case will be heard next. A battery of eminent academicians have filed a public interest litigation that the arrests of renowned human rights activists was done to seek vendetta and was the Centre's way of muzzling dissent.
But India TV has gained exclusive access to eight letters allegedly written either by the accused or their colleagues which reveal a direct link between accused and Naxal movement. The letters 'implicate' P Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves, but most importantly, the letters establish a clear role played by Sudha Bharadwaj.
The letters establish links between the Naxals and Kashmiri separatists, suggest support of Congress leaders to extreme Leftists agenda, and even give proof that the arrested accused were involved in procuring weapons and arming the rebels through international routes.
The eight letters that India TV has access to have been allegedly written either by the accused or their colleagues. Some of these letters directly name the arrested accused or talk about them in code names.
Also read | Who are 5 rights activists arrested by Pune police
P Varavara Rao and weapon procurement for rebels:
One of the letters accessed by India TV reveals that renowned poet and celebrated activist P Varavara Rao was incharge of procuring weapons for the rebels in India. The letter allegedly written by 'R' to a Comrade Prakash says: Our comrades will send weapons from Manipur through Nepal. Only Varavara Rao has the right to buy these weapons. We have sent a catalogue of weapons for his permission.
Link between Naxalites and Kashmiri Separatists:
The letter allegedly penned by Sudha Bharadwaj not only establishes link between Naxals and Kashmiri separatists but also implicates Gautam Navlakha, who is also under house arrest, for establishing that link. Addressed to a Comrade Prakash, the letter reads: Comrade Ankit and Comrade Navlakha are in touch with Kashmiri Separatists. We have to promote the videos of human rights violations being inflicted by enemies there through social media and broadcast channels. We also have to provide them legal assistance for the pellet gun case filed in Supreme Court, for that please talk to Comrade Prashant.
Exclusive letters accessed by India TV describe a clearlink between Naxals and Kahsmir separatists
A stone pelter like package for urban Naxal cadre:
Sudha Bhardwaj's letter further reads: We must define a work-based package for urban and rural cadre on the lines of the one given by Kashmiri separatists to extermists, their families and stone pelters to mitigate the terror infused by the arrest of Prof Sai Baba, so that they can completely dedicate themselves to the cause of the oragnisation and be mentally prepared for any incident or legal trouble.
Also read | Letter which revealed 'plot to kill PM Modi' and led to arrests of 'urban Naxals'
Letter that 'implicates' Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Surendra Gadling:
India TV has accessed another letter allegedly written by Sudha Bharadwaj to Surendra Gadling, who was arrested by Pune Police in June in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence. The letter also mentions Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves.
Dear Surendra,
We are all worried for Comdrade Murgan and Jharkhand FF members, I hope you must have started working for their legal defence. You can ask Arun for arranging funds for the purpose. The radical student union being operated by Arun and Vernon looks promising. Mahesh and Nandu reached here safe and sound on January 3 and are very inspired by Arun and Venon's struggles.
The two names, Mahesh and Nandu, mentioned in the letters were also presented in the court by police to prove that the accused operated recruitment cells to create a cadre like Kashmiri separatists across India. The police alleged in the court that Arun Ferreira had recruited two students from TISS into Naxal cadre and these two names of these two students are Mahesh and Nandu. The Pune Police told the court that Ferreira was going to attend human rights conference soon to further carry out similar activities. Gonsalves assisted Ferreira in the process and wanted to send the two recruits to jungle for training.
Congress funding for Naxalites
Talking about inspiring and funding members of several students unions across the country over 'BHU-like incidents', one of the letters allegedly written by Comrade Prakash says that Congress leaders are willing to assist them.
"We must intensify protests using students, state forces will be soft against students which will gradually put the state at disadvantage while acting against us. Congress leaders are very much willing to assist us in the process and have also agreed to fund their further agitations whenever such opportunities arrive," the letter said.
Watch full story on India TV:
