PM assassination plot: Hunt begins for Assam accused

Guwahati: The security agencies have launched a hunt for comrade Prakash alias Nabin Mech alias Rituparna Goswami, who hails from Assam in connection with a sensational letter that has revealed Maoist plan to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indicating that Rituparna Goswami, a former student at JNU, is believed to have been leading a normal life somewhere in Assam, security forces did not rule out the possibility of Rituparna Goswami’s name being misused by Maoist cadres.

Pointing out that Rituparna Goswami was associated with left ideologies, while in JNU, sources in Assam Police however said that they are yet to get any direction from home ministry to corroborate the findings of Maharashtra police.

Pune police claimed to have intercepted a purported letter between Maoist leaders. The letter is addressed to a Maoist leader named Prakash.

The rational for the alleged assassination plot in the letter is to end Modi-Raj because of the electoral victories of the BJP and its allies in assembly elections.

Though, security agencies are tight lipped about the media reports, the ongoing investigation into the Maoist plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a roadshow has pointed finger towards Rituparna also referred as Ritupam Goswami who is reported to have been leading a normal in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district. Though, some Maoist activities had come to light in the district till 2014, local police said that they had succeeded in quelling the modules at their initial stage of recruitment.

The district police claimed that there was no Maoist activity in the district as most of its members were either apprehended or surrendered.

The letter, dated April 18 2017 and addressed to one “Comrade Prakash”, was found from the home of Delhi-based activist Rona Wilson, the police claimed. Rona Wilson and four others were arrested on Wednesday for links with the banned CPI-Maoist. The letter is signed “R” which, the police suspect, is for “Rona Wilson”.

Pleading for their custody before a sessions court, the police referred to a letter that they claimed had been found in the Delhi home of Rona Wilson, a member of the group Committee for Release of Political Prisoners.

A copy of the letter, released by news agency says “defeating Hindu fascism has been our core agenda and a major concern” and adds: “We are working to consolidate ties with like-minded organisations, political parties, representatives of minorities across the country.”

It says despite “big defeats like Bihar and West Bengal, PM Modi had successfully established BJP governments in more than 15 states.” Stating that the trend would mean trouble for the party on all fronts, the letter talked about “senior comrades” proposing “concrete steps to end the Modi-era.” The letter also talks about raising Rs. 8 crore to buy American M-4 rifles and four lakh rounds.