IM, SIMI and now Naxals besiege Pune

Source: mid day

After banned outfits like SIMI and Indian Mujahideen made it their domicile and target, Pune is now abode to another anti-state ensemble, that of the Naxalites

The red corridor, dominant in the jungles on the western borders of the state, has made a foray into its eastern, urban centres, to set base in Pune. That the cultural capital of the state is now a hub for the Naxalite movement came to light after six alleged Naxals were arrested by the state Anti-Terrorism Squad. Worse, the ATS suspects many more Maoists of taking shelter in the city. This, however, is not the first signpost that marks out Pune as the axis of anti-social or anti-national agents. Earlier, a number of terrorists from the Indian Mujahideen and the Students' Islamic Movement of India were found to be residing in the city and were arrested by authorities. 

Nabbed: Mansoor Peerbhoy, a web-based engineer who was the IM's 

whiz-kid, was a Pune resident. File pic

Why Pune 

Other than the demographic, it is the geography of the city that draws them. Rakesh Maria, ATS chief, said, "The Naxals were targeting the youth of the city. They set up their base here as there is a huge population of students and labour, facilitating the recruitment of large numbers." A second, more geo-strategic, reason is its proximity to urban centres. "Pune gives them easy access to Mumbai, Nasik, Nagpur and other such cities. This enables them to get more people into the group." 

The police had found that the Naxals had formed their base in Pune as early as February 2008 -- around the same time that Pune's SIMI module was unearthed -- and have exploited it since. The Naxals had got in touch with a cross-section of students and labour to make them part of their anti-state campaign. They set up a base here to get more people into their outfit from urban areas from Mumbai, Pune Surat, Ahmedabad and nearby areas. Two years later, the IM was found to have laid siege to the city, what with the German Bakery blasts in February 2010. Few of the outfit's members were Pune residents, abusing the city as their meeting point. 

More in hiding 

According to police sources investigating the case, there are more in the city that they are yet to expose and nab. In the backdrop of the arrest of two Naxal cadres -- Angela Sontakke (42), secretary of the Naxal-founded Golden Corridor Committee, from Thane, and her aide, Sushma Ramteke (27), from Pirangut, by the state ATS on April 28, the developments pose a systemic threat. 

Mumbai as a base camp is not feasible for terror outfits, sources revealed, as it is always on alert. A number of Naxals have been arrested from Mumbai in the past. As such, it does not offer them the safety of being inconspicuous. 

Asked about IM's rationale for choosing Pune, Maria said, "Again, the reason is the huge student population that comes to the city for education, who the IM could easily get in touch with. They indoctrinated and enlisted them in the group."  People like Mansoor Peerbhoy, a web-based engineer with an annual salary of Rs 19 lakh who was the IM's whiz-kid, and others like Mohsin Chowdhary and his brother were all from Pune.