ATS to look into terror ring's links with rationalists' killings
The same is being probed further as the documents and messages exchanged via cell phones were in coded language.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) carried out fresh raids in connection with the alleged terror ring which was busted on August 11, arresting three persons associated with right-wing outfits. The raids were carried out in Solapur and Pune. Officials have seized multiple documents from there. The three arrested persons were remanded in further custody by the court till August 28.
The accused Vaibhav Raut, (40) a gau rakshak (cow protector), Sharad Kashalkar, (25) were arrested from Nalasopara and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, (39) was arrested from Parvati area in Pune.
One of the important links that are being probed in depth are the links of the trio with the killings of rationalists, Govind Pansare and and Bangalore based journalist Gauri Lankesh.
The ATS submitted a sealed envelop to the court during their production and sought their further custody to interrogate them to determine the conspiracy and the targets. The investigators also told the court that the plates of vehicle registration numbers found during searches also need to be verified and ascertained if they were used earlier and for what were they procured.
The weapons and their usage is still being investigated and the ATS officials are in the process to ascertain if the seized firearms were supplied or used elsewhere by the accused persons.
The ATS also informed the court that during one of the search operations, the agency seized firearms, explosives and letters from the house of Prasad Deshpande at Natepute village in Solapur. The same is being probed further as the documents and messages exchanged via cell phones were in coded language.