The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unfortunate

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Monday, Dec 22, 2008
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Unfortunate

It is unfortunate that a senior politician like A.R. Antulay should have raised doubts about the circumstances that led to the killing of ATS chief Hemant Karkare and two other police officers during the Mumbai terror attacks. They were no doubt victims of terror. It was perhaps an error of judgment or poor assessment of the situation by the ATS chief that took him and his deputies to the scene where they were shot dead. The situation was grave and demanding as terrorists struck simultaneously in different places. The ATS chief, obviously, could not have been present in all places at the same time. That he brought to light the complicity of some Hindutva elements in the Malegoan blast surely does not mean there is something more than what meets the eye in his killing, as claimed by Mr. Antulay.

V. Ramasubramanian,

Coimbatore

* * *

That Mr. Antulay has received undue media attention for saying something sensational proves how vulnerable we are to sensationalism. All my senses tell me that Karkare and his colleagues were in the right place at the right time to nab the terrorists, which is why they got caught in the crossfire. It was unfortunate that the terrorists got the better of them. In a crisis situation, how could anyone have pre-empted the terrorists’ next move? Even after 60 hours of the terror strike, no one knew how many terrorists had come into Mumbai. So where is the question of a conspiracy? Mr. Antulay should use his wonderful imagination and fancy ideas for more constructive purposes.

R. Vijayalakshmi,

Bangalore

* * *

Leaders like Mr. Antulay are no different from Hindu fundamentalists who criticise the government for its so-called policy of appeasement towards the minorities. Nobody denies Mr. Antulay his freedom of speech but his comments on the killing of Karkare and two other police officers are definitely outrageous.

Suresh Nandigam,

Hanuman Junction

* * *

Mr. Antulay’s irresponsible comments have done great damage to the country. Pakistan will surely exploit his view that the terrorists had no reason to kill Karkare. His suggestion that there is more to it than meets the eye in the killing of Karkare and his colleagues will demoralise the police force. It contradicts the account of the policemen who were with Karkare on the fateful day. Mr. Antulay has communalised the Mumbai tragedy.

Manish Manglani,

New Delhi

* * *

If, as Mr. Antulay claims, the terrorists had no reason to kill the ATS chief, what reason did they have to kill innocent people whom they did not even know? Do terrorists have a reason to act?

Durga Prasad,

Hyderabad

* * *

I am appalled that politicians are no longer thinking of the victims of Mumbai terror, some of whom are still in hospital, have been orphaned or widowed. Karkare did the right thing by going to the Cama hospital where helpless people were becoming targets of a terror attack. Instead of indulging in speculation, our leaders should get out of the comfort of their homes and help the victims.

U. Uma,

Hyderabad

* * *

Mr. Antulay’s comments are unwarranted and untimely. Even if he had some doubts about Karkare’s killing, as a responsible Minister he should have expressed it to the Home Minister for suitable action.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Chennai

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