Avinash Pawar, 30, was associated with the right wing fringe group for the last five years. He is also a follower of Sambhaji Bhide, the leader of Shiv Pratishthan.
Mumbai : The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested a member of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti on Friday night for his involvement in the conspiracy of planning blasts across the state. Avinash Pawar, 30, was arrested on Friday from Dockyard Road, where he works as a pipe-fitter. Pawar was involved in the conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state with Vaibhav Raut, 40, Sharad Kalaskar, 25, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, 39, and Shrikant Pangarkar, 40, who were arrested earlier by the ATS.
Pawar lives in Bhatwadi, Ghatkopar. His name had cropped up during the investigation of the other three accused. The ATS had raided Pawar’s residence on Friday. Mobile phones, a computer and incriminating documents, including pamphlets of the Sanatan Sanstha, have been found from his residence.
Pawar has been arrested for possession of explosives (Section 4 and 5) of the Explosive Substances Act read along with possession, sale, usage or transportation of explosives (Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act, criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) of the Indian Penal Code and punishment for terrorist act (Section 16), conspiracy for terrorist act (Section 18) and being a member of terrorist gang (Section 20) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Pawar was associated with the right wing fringe group for the last five years. Pawar is also a follower of Sambhaji Bhide, the leader of Shiv Pratishthan.
According to Sanjeev Punalekar, the defence advocate representing Pawar, “The ATS and the Maharashtra government has framed my client. He is not involved in any conspiracy with the other accused.”
The ATS had, on August 10 arrested Raut, who operated the outfit, ‘Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti,’ at Nalasopara in Palghar district.
After Raut’s arrest, the ATS had nabbed Kalaskar and Gondhalekar, following raids in Palghar and Pune. Pangarkar, a former Shiv Sena corporator from Jalna was arrested on August 19. Twenty crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, four electronic, 22 non-electronic detonators, 150 grams of explosive powder and some other materials were seized.
Pawar has been remanded in police custody until August 31.