Book on Karkare an inspiration for PFI activists

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21 Jul 2010

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Who killed Karkare? The real face of terrorism in India', the book penned by a retired IPS officer which points an accusing finger at Hindu fundamentalism for the rise in terrorist activities in India, has become a handbook for the Muslim extremist outfits, including the Popular Front of India (PFI).


Within a short span of time after its release, the book that tries to trace the 'Hinduist links' behind the death of Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemanth Karkare, has been translated into various Indian languages, including Malayalam. The Malayalam edition of the book was brought out by Thejas Publications the publication wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

'Karkareye Konnatharu,' the Malayalam edition that was released in February is doing brisk sales, say the publishers.

Top sources in the State Police said that the book was widely read and circulated among PFI activists in the State as well as members of other Muslim extremist outfits. ''The book does not contain any objectionable content and hence we could not interfere in it, '' a senior police officer said.

Sources also said that it was a meeting held in connection with the release of the Tamil edition of 'Who killed Karkare?' at Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district on Sunday that led to the spreading of the message about a secret meeting of PFI cadres.

Though no PFI activists were evidently present at the meeting, Intelligence sources feel that it would be the counterparts of the Kerala PFI activists in Tamil Nadu who took part in the meeting. Besides Malayalam, the book has also been translated into Urdu, Kannada, Marathi and Tamil. ''The book could be used as an effective tool to woo more youths towards Muslim extremist ideologies. The Muslim extremist outfits are even resorting to the propaganda that the community will dominate Kerala by 2040,'' said a senior police officer.

Penned by S M Mushrif, a former IG in Maharashtra and a senior officer of Karkare, the book goes through a dozen terror strikes in the nation over the past few years and attempts to trace their links with Hindu fundamentalist outfits. It accuses the Intelligence Bureau of playing a role in creating a false propaganda against the Muslim community.

While suggesting a reinvestigation into the death of the ATS chief in the Mumbai terror strike, the former IPS officer also highlights the exposure of the links of Lt. Col. Purohit and other leaders of VHP, RSS and other Sangh Parivar organisations with the Malegaon blast of 2008 by Karkare.

Mushrif also smells a rat in the alleged negligence on the part of the Intelligence Bureau in alerting the agencies concerned, including the Mumbai Police, of the Mumbai terror strike. ''Not only this one, we publish several other books that expose Hindu fundamentalism. The book 'Karkareye Konnatharu' also exposes the real face of the IB and hence it is well received," said PFI leader Nazarudeen Elamaram.

arjun.raghunath@gmail.com