Seven naxals held by ATS had visited Bhima Koregaon

Mumbai: The seven naxals arrested recently by the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had visited the bicentennial celebrations at Bhima Koregaon in Pune district and were in touch with two alleged naxal sympathisers–cum-dalit activist from Mumbai, said sources.

The investigators suspect that the arrested group was trying to revive the naxal ideology in the city by doing the groundwork with the help of naxal sympathisers, in the backdrop of the Bhima Koregaon violence on January 1.

The ATS has recovered posters from the accused, condemning attack on dalits at Bhima Koregaon. These posters were allegedly used to mobilise new cadre by stroking anti-establishment sentiments.

The arrested suspects with alleged naxal sympathies have been identified as Venugopal, Satyanarayan alias Sataya, Shankarayya, Babushankar Banguri, residents of Kamraj Nagar in Vikhroli, Narsayya a resident of Vikhroli (east), Ravi Marpalli, a resident of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar and Ramesh Golala, a resident of Dombivali (east).

The group was led by Venugopal and his deputies were Satya-naran and Golala, investigators have discovered. “They were in constant touch with at least two naxal sympathisers — a man and a woman from Byculla and Virar. The two persons in question have had brushes with the law owing to their ideological inclinations,” said an ATS officer.

“They were trying to influence ‘activist’ from the backward communities by instigating them in the name of injustice being meted out by the society. On some occasions money would also be collected from those who would supported the cause,” added an investigating officer. All the accused have been remanded to custody of the ATS for further investigation on their naxal leadership.