Dr. Chandrasekhar, the legendary Indian forensic science expert, who played ahighly-acclaimed role in the successful investigation and prosecution of theLTTE conspirators involved in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, has been one ofthe strongest critics of the police in some Indian states resorting to narco-analysis,which is not a scientific method of investigation. In many countries of theworld narco-analysis is viewed as a political tool and not a scientific tool.
On the basis of statements and remarks made by the suspects under the influenceof drugs, which induce a state of semi-consciousness, large sections of theHindu community have been sought to be demonised, the army has been unwittinglystigmatised and attention has been sought to be diverted from the investigationinto acts of jihadi terrorism and from enquiries to establish the full extent ofthe so-called Indian Mujahideen iceberg.
I am proud to have been the first analyst to have drawn attention on October2, 2008, to the fact that the explosions of September 30 at Malegaon andModasa in Gujarat did not gel with the explosions carried out in other parts ofIndia by the jihadi terrorists. I was the first to have suggested that we shouldthoroughly investigate the suspected involvement of some Hindus in these blastsin order to gain the trust of the Muslim community and remove the misgivings intheir mind about the fairness of the Police. I was the first to have suggestedin a TV interview that if the Malegaon investigation warranted a re-visit tosome of the past investigations into terrorist strikes in which Muslims were themain targets, the Police should not hesitate to do so.
I applauded the Mumbai ATS, when they started the investigation into thesuspected involvement of some Hindus in the Malegaon blasts, but I have beengreatly concerned over the manner in which their investigation--instead ofremaining professional and scientific-- has taken what large sections of theHindu majority of this country will view as a politically motivated direction.Some of the media leaks attributed to the Mumbai ATS make one think that the ATShas--wittingly or unwittingly-- started playing to the so-called secularists'gallery.
So many obvious questions, which should have been asked by objectiveopinion-makers, have not been asked. One of the suspects is alleged to have lenther motor-cycle to the perpetrators. Can one think of any instance in the recenthistory of terrorism in which a terrorist-suspect created evidence againsthimself or herself by using his or her own vehicle for planting an improvisedexplosive device (IED)?
A private military school, which coaches aspirants to a career in the ArmedForces, has been sought to be condemned on the ground that some of the suspectsheld a meeting in its premises. What is important is, what was the purpose ofthe meeting? Was it to plan specific acts of terrorism or was it merely todiscuss how to counter anti-national jihadi terrorism? Innumerable meetings andseminars are held every year in prestigious training institutions of theGovernment to discuss, inter alia, appropriate strategies against jihaditerrorism, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Very often, the speakers call for strongretaliatory attacks against the terrorist organisations, Pakistan andBangladesh? Are they to be viewed as instigators of terrorism and are ourtraining institutions to be criticised for holding such discussions?
We are now told that the explosions in the Samjhauta Express in the beginning oflast year were also carried out by some Hindus with the help of RDX explosivesallegedly supplied by a serving Army officer, who is presently underinvestigation.
I had written as follows on the Samjhauta Express blasts on February20, 2007: