Electronics seized from Pune residence of terror operative

Mumbai/Pune: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) – which busted an alleged right-wing terror outfit following the arrest of three operatives from Palghar, accused of plotting attacks at multiple locations across the state – has seized firearms and electronic items from Nalasopara and Pune.

From Nalasopara, the ATS seized five firearms; three country-made pistols, all of which were found in an incomplete state; 11 live 9mm cartridges; 30 rounds of 7.65 mm cartridges; and other equipment such as springs, trigger mechanisms etc. used to assemble firearms. On Monday, the ATS raided the Pune house of Sudhanva Gondhalekar – one of the three arrested accused - and seized a laptop, six hard discs, five pen drives, mobiles, SIM cards, and a bike.

“We have confiscated one laptop, six hard discs, five pen drives, nine mobiles, many SIM cards, one Wifi dongle, one four-wheeler and one two-wheeler,” an ATS official said on condition of anonymity.

Gondhalekar was arrested along with Vaibhav Raut and Sharad Kalaskar for possessing 20 crude bombs and other explosive material suspected of being used for attacks in Satara, Solapur, Pune and Nalasopara on Friday.

“Firearms like crude bombs were being assembled at the residences of the accused in Nalasopara and Pune. More details are being gathered,” said an ATS officer.

The ATS is also focusing on the arms and explosives cache, with the murder of Bangalore-based journalist Gauri Lankesh. The ATS and Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Bangalore police are coordinating with each other on the online probe.

Gondhalekar is originally from Satara and was arrested from Pune on August 10. He is allegedly associated with the Shiv Pratishthan of Sambhaji Bhide, who is the prime accused in the Bhima-Koregaon riots.