The Karnataka special investigation team (SIT) probing journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder case recently filed an additional chargesheet against the accused who are all reportedly members of Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagriti Samiti (HJS). A Karnataka SIT press note said that the accused involved and those wanted in the case were motivated by Kshatra Dharma Sadhana, a book published by Sanatan Sanstha. The note said that the accused killers and conspirators had been given the book when they were practising as sadhaks of Sanatan Sanstha and HJS.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet in the terror module busted by the anti-terror agency in August against 12 people. The chargesheet has been filed under various sections of the anti-terror act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as well as the explosives act, the arms act and especially Sections 16 and 18 of the UAPA i.e., commission of a terrorist act on Indian soil.
The accused in the case had planned to launch terrorist attacks on Indian soil, especially in Maharashtra, to register their protest against films like Padmaavat and a few others. The first case registered against members of Sanatan Sanstha under the UAPA was when they executed blasts in auditoriums in Vashi, Thane and Panvel, against plays and films like Jodhaa Akbar.
Meanwhile, Sanatan Sanstha members have refuted the charges and said that their organisation is being targeted by the Karnataka government.
Ramesh Shinde, a spokesperson of HJS, in a video statement said, "SIT chargesheet has not been given to us. The press note says, Sanatan Sanstha and HJS members were motivated by Kshatra Dharma Sadhana. The people whom they have arrested are not our members. If a book by Sanatan Sanstha can move people to murder someone, you have found a book that led to the murder. But what about the jihadis and the Naxalites which book has inspired them?"
Targeting the Karnataka government, Shinde said that the government was not arresting those killing Hindu activists. He said, "In Karnataka, 24 Hindu activists were killed who were associated with BJP, Sangh Parivar, Hindu Jagran Vedi and other organisations. Bodies like the Popular Front of India [a fundamentalist Islamic organisation] are also inspired through some books to commit murders. Today, in our country, they would try to ban a Hindu organisation. We have distributed thousands of copies of this book for the past 18 years. The government hasn't banned it till date. How can you conclude that this book motivated them to murder?"
Shinde said: "This is a conspiracy by the JD(S) and the Congress in Karnataka." The Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress are the ruling coalition in Karnataka.
