School for Terror?

 

 

The film Shaurya – about army men wearing their religious affiliations on their sleeves – had bombed at the box office. But the real life blast drama, allegedly played out by the likes of Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Purohit and retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, has been terrifyingly successful. And, yes, nobody would ever have known who precisely directed the Malegaon real time script had not the blast bike been identified as Sadhvi Pragya’s. For it was only after the arrest of Pragya and her accomplices that the sleuths were firmly launched on the army link to the terror trail. What’s more, the evidence gathered so far suggests they masterminded several other blasts as well. Interestingly, it is also now mentioned in some reports that one point from which some of the plans originated was the Bhonsala Military School in Nashik! It is alleged that this is where these army men and their cohorts 'trained' the saffron bombers.

As the school, established way back in 1937 by RSS ideologue Dr B.S.Moonje, evolved, its agenda purportedly came to borrow more and more from Germany’s Nazi and fascist Italy’s Brown Shirt training schools. In fact, some of the extreme criticism has also asserted that the school, set up initially to instill in its students the spirit of patriotism, has slowly but surely morphed into "a killing machine of the Hindutvawadis." Though this may or may not be correct, repeated calls to the school for an interview were not returned.

During a recent visit, however, TSI found that the school campus spread over hundreds of acres had a range of curricula on offer – and enrolled students from pre-nursery to matriculation levels. Yet, common to them all was an almost overbearing emphasis on physical training. Also, many of the students of Shishu Vihar were locals from middle class backgrounds. Others came from outside the district – all of them drawn by the Spartan discipline and quality education the school reportedly provides.

The military training school 20 yards from Shishu Vihar, watched over by several vigilant guards, is set in lush green compounds. Its halls are adorned with photos of RSS leaders like Savarkar.

The students’ day begins at crack of dawn with physical exercises and horse riding lessons. The school’s physical trainer, Sanjay Pagare – a retired army man - at first declined to answer our queries. And when, after great reluctance, he did slightly open up, nothing new was revealed. Said Pagare,“I have been here for a year now and have never come across any suspicious activities. (B.S. Moonje was this school’s founder and it is named after him). He always stressed on spreading communal amity. Now the school’s fair name is being sullied, that’s all.” An 11-year-old Class IX student, Divekar from Navi Mumbai, was returning to his hostel after his horse riding lessons. He said his father, an insurance professional, had got him enrolled during the Diwali holidays. “I have been here for just a fortnight and will go back home in two days after finishing my training.”

When asked about the nature of this “training” he said he was given lessons in horse riding, swimming and physical training. He also learnt to use air guns.

Later, in the school’s office, an angry employee, one Joshi, would not even permit this reporter to enter his room. “Please check your facts before you come to this place,” he fumed.

It was the same story outside the school campus. None but one of the locals would agree to answer any queries. Ameesh Kumar Singh from Muzaffarpur, who owns a motor garage, said his son studied in Class III and his brother’s son in Class IV. Claimed Singh: “This is the only quality school in Nashik. Its students are exposed to more than just the usual textbooks. They also learn to do yoga and are given extensive physical education lessons. These are what keep them so disciplined and healthy.”

Asked whether the recent adverse media reports on the school would dent its image, he said this was a passing phase and all would be well soon. Another local, Syed Mohammad Ayub, however, disagreed. While nobody, including himself, was hundred percent certain sure of the truth about the allegations, there was no dearth of skeptics, he said. Indeed, from all accounts, the Bhonsla Military School does appear to combine quality education with physical training. But it is also true that it encouragingly admits children whose parents are either RSS members or actively sympathise with the Hindutva ideology. So is this one, a school for scandal?

Maharashtra’s Anti-terror Squad (ATS) that is probing the Malegaon blast case has alleged the involvement of senior army officers and politicians. Among these, high profile arrests are those of retired Major Umesh Upadhyaya, Sunil Kulkarni, Lt Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, Jagdish Mhatre and Ajay Rahikar. They are all believed to have had a major role not only in Malegaon, but also in blasts elsewhere in the country - in Nanded, Parbhani and Mahad. And all five arrested men are currently in judicial custody. Public prosecutor Ajay Misser said there was no knowing just when and where this probe will end. Said Misser: “Their role in the other blasts too is being probed. Our men faced major hurdles in UP, thanks to the state’s uncooperative police force. We understand there is tremendous pressure on the cops due to the involvement of a local politician.” (see interview) The ATS, however, was armed with strong evidence nailing the accused, as became abundantly clear when it went to court on November 10. The court was also informed about the hawala transfers of Rs 10.73 lakh that the accused made to procure RDX and various other materials that were used in the blasts. The accused are also said to have organised an arms training camp in Pune’s Sinhadgarh in July/August 2003. Expectedly, Samir Kulkarni’s advocate rubbished the evidence ATS presented and in turn accused the investigators of making “a mountain out of a molehill.” He said as Samir was a trader such money transfers were nothing new to him. When it was suggested that Samir was also involved in publishing and distributing books on the Hindutva ideology, he shot back: “Is it a crime to be a religious person, or publish religious books?”

Outside the court, the president of Abhinav Bharat, Himani Swarkar, was protesting the arrest of these suspects. Himani said the entire “drama” was simply to “balance” Islamist terrorism. “Why does not the Central government hang Afzal Guru? Why is such a fuss being created about the narco test? Why was action not taken against Sharad Pawar or Chaggan Bhujbal when their names were mentioned by Abdul Karim Talgi?” she asked. And then she went on to allege that the ATS was working under political pressure. When the name of Abhinav Bharat cropped up during the investigations, it was given out that there were several organisations by that name. But the president of the Jan Sangharsh Manch and senior advocate of Gujarat High Court, Mukul Sinha, asserted that Sanathan Sansthan was propagating a fascist line.

“Abhinav Bharat, Jan Jagaran Manch and Jan Kalyan Samiti are sister organisations of Sanathan Sansthan and are spreading communalism in the country,” alleged Sinha, and added that the Sansthan was involved in 26 blasts. “I have the evidence,” Sinha claimed.

Though the Indian system does have the virtuous background of arresting many who may be innocent, developments last week do point to a larger conspiracy. A Nashik court has allowed the ATS to question a `high profile' person - reportedly BJP MP, Aditya Avaidhnath, - for his involvement in the larger conspiracy. The Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh has challenged the police to arrest him. For forces of law and order, it can only mean bad tidings. Clearly, testing times lie ahead for India's criminal justice system.