Hindu suicide squad poached its ‘weapons’ from a minister

‘‘Patangrao Kadam is my neighbour in Pune,’’ Chitale told the court. ‘‘A metal fence was being erected at his bungalow. We thought these hollow iron poles could be useful in commando training and my wife got them. We also moulded iron bars to resemble swords for the batch of women commandos. I do not know what to say when the police call them weapons.’’

Police arrested Chitale and Atre under Section 37 (1) and 135 of the Bombay Police Act, and under Section 25 (1) (C) of the Indian Arms Act. The police also seized 25 ‘‘swords’’ and 10 ‘‘spears’’ from the academy premises in Vasad village of Ambernath on Thursday night.

Chitale was in Pune during the raid. And, convinced that his idea of a Hindu suicide squad was the only way to countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, he was furious at being arrested.

‘‘You make it sound like I am a terrorist. But, I am a man who has fought two wars for the country, and these iron bars cannot possibly be called weapons,’’ Chitale argued.

A mechanical engineer, Chitale joined the Army in June 1968 and retired in 1987. He participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was deployed in the Sialkot sector.

Chitale admitted before the city and civil court judge that he wasn’t aware that he needed police permission before using such ‘‘weapons’’. ‘‘The Pune-based academy was started with consultation of eminent ex-servicemen like Admiral Jayant Nadkarni, and after informing the PMO, the Home Ministry and the Chief Minister’s office,’’ Chitale claimed, presenting the prospectus of the Pune-based Maharashtra Military Foundation and registration details.

The judge granted bail of Rs 3,000 each, and directed the two accused to report to the police twice every week for a fortnight. He also asked them to file a separate affidavit stating that the academy was started to train young volunteers for military services. But Chitale promised he would continue his work until directed to stop by the police. ‘‘I had informed the Centre that I was training 500 commandos to be sent to Pakistan, but haven’t yet received a response. Until they say no, we will continue to train youngsters for suicide squads.’’ The academy has already recruited a second batch of youngsters, but their training was interrupted by his arrest.

In Chandigarh, former chief of Western Command Premnath Hoon welcomed the thought, and recommended that politicians and journalists too join such training camps. ‘‘Though the Shiv Sena is not directly connected, it wholeheartedly appreciates and hails the idea of camps that will churn out suicide squads of really toughened youth. I request the government to entrust us with operations to be carried out across the border in Pakistan’s territory once our squads are ready,’’ Lt Gen Hoon (retd), who was the chief guest at Ambrawati camp run by the commando Academy said.

‘‘Those call suicide squads communal are rank communal themselves,’’ added Hoon, who heads the Northern India chapter of Shiv Sena.

‘‘Shiv Sena will never oppose these squads.’’