Hindu World Wide Web -- News Update

Three Shiv Sainiks arrested by Special Task Force in Mumbai.

Mumbai, June 22, 2001

Three Shiv Sainiks from the far right wing Hindu political party, the Shiv Sena,  have been arrested by Special Task Force for their alleged role in the Mumbai communal riots in Dec 92 - Jan 93. These riots had taken place after the demolition of the so-called babri mosque.  Some right wing Hindu organisations like VHP, Bajrang Dal, RSS have pledged to build  a Ram Temple. Shiv Sena also support  these organisations on the issue of Ram Temple.

The three arrested have been identified as Raju Nachekar, Ravindra Nachekar and Anand Panchaal.  They have been remanded to police custody till July 4.  A fortnight ago, former minister and sitting Sena MLA Gajanan Kirtikar and six other Sainiks were summoned by the Andheri metropolitan court (in Mumbai) after chargesheets were filed against them by the STF. 

The STF has been formed by the Democratic Front government to implement recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission report. In 1998, the then Shiv Sena-BJP government had rejected the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission report. 

The Shiv Sena has formed a team of 50 lawyers to challenge the action being taken by the Maharashtra  government against Sainiks for their alleged involvement in the communal violence of 1992-93. Shiv Sena is equipping itself to fight the government’s action both legally and organisationally. It is going to hold public rallies all over Mumbai to explain to people its stand on the Mumbai riots.

People of Mumbai feel that this is done for the appeasement of the Minority community.  Most of the Hindus also feel that if Shiv Sena would  not  have reacted to the violence of the Muslim community in 92-93, then "they" would have killed many Hindus and "we" would have suffered a LOT.  Hindus now fear that if more arrests are made just to appease "them"  then "we" need to oppose this.