This is most ugly attack: Ex-top cop

Mumbai: The Indian Police Service (IPS) Association has condemned the controversial comments made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and terror accused Sandhvi Pragya Singh Thakur against martyred IPS officer Hemant Karkare, calling them ‘insulting.’ Serving and former officers also stated their objection to the remarks made by Ms Thakur, who is contesting the Bhopal seat.

Ms Thakur had claimed at a rally in Bhopal that her curse was responsible for the death of the 26/11 hero at the hands of Pakistani terrorists. The new entrant to the BJP went to say that the late IPS officer hated her and that he was an ‘anti-national’.

Condemning the statements, the IPS Associa-tion on Friday tweeted via its official handle, “Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare, IPS made the supreme sacrifice fighting terrorists. Those of us in uniform condemn the insulting statement made by a candidate and demand that sacrifices of all our martyrs be respected”.

Mr Karkare was the then-Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief and he investigated the September 29, 2008 blast in which six people were killed and 101 injured. Ms Thakur is one of the prime suspects in the case and the court has framed charges against her.

Former Maharashtra ATS chief K.P. Raghuvanshi, who later headed the anti-terror wing, said, “I was told about the comment and it is a very unfortunate comment against the martyred IPS officer.”

Former state DGP A.N. Roy, who headed the state police and supervised the Malegaon probe, said he was extremely disturbed about “this most ugly attack”. Stating that Karkare had led a professional investigation into the blast, Mr Roy said, “I stand by my officer and colleague, who is not alive to defend himself.”

Terming Ms Thakur’s actions objectionable, unethical and immoral, Mr Roy said, “All courts have so far examined the material on record in the case multiple times and passed appropriate orders.”

Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who worked with Karkare, said, “I am extremely distressed at what Pragya Thakur has said about the martyr. I knew him for more than twenty years. He was a gentleman to the core and one of the most professionally sound police officers. Just because he is no longer around to defend himself what right does she have to smear his name? It is most unethical and against the Indian culture that the lady professes to believe in. I condemn her statement and am seeking a public apology for the same.”

A Mumbai police officer, who also served under Karkare, stated that the BJP should take action against Ms Thakur. “The comment is highly unacceptable and it has come from a person who was charged with a serious crime. Legal action should be taken against her,” said the officer on the condition of anonymity.