New Delhi (21.08.2023): A discussion on the book ‘Lt Colonel Purohit the Man Betrayed?’ by Smita Mishra in the presence of Army veterans Like Colonel RSN Singh and Colonel Hunny Bakshi and bureaucrat RVS Mani threw many more questions in the air and certainly satiated quite a few. The book based on Hindu terror and arrest of Lt Colonel Shrikant Purohit, a serving Military Intelligence officer, presents graphic details of torture, trauma and ordeal of the family including the then toddler of Purohits ever since Lt Colonel was arrested.

The stigma is still attached with the family for such a grave allegation. Many dots were connected, some revelations were made but there are many questions that are remaining unanswered even to these officers who were thick into the matter. Speaking on the occasion, author of the book Smita Mishra said, “As a field reporter, I was not convinced with the reports doing rounds about Hindu terror. I found many lacunas in them. Curiosity led me to more research and finally ended up writing this book.”

The disappearance of Lt Colonel and no inquiry about his whereabouts does not happen in the Army. Col Hunny Bakshi, a mentor of Lt Col Purohit, said, “It doesn’t happen in the Army if any officer has been asked to report somewhere and at the last minute his reporting location is changed.” There was a proper planning when a Sadhvi, a septuagenarian saint and Lt Colonel were arrested on charges of Hindu terror despite the fact that people allegedly involved in Malegaon blasts and Samjhauta Express blasts were already arrested. Mysterious killing of three other accused of Saffron terror too figured in the talks. Col Singh sees foreign hands also in the entire matter and was very candid in saying that people have to call a spade a spade and must shun from indirectly referring to something or someone.

R V S Mani was of the view that the presence of MP politician in meetings of Home Ministry, presence of a senior Maharashtra IAS officer in Taj Hotel at the time of November 26 terror attack who came out safe and remained incommunicado ever since and NSG kept on waiting in Delhi while mayhem was being caused at Taj and Trident and visit of senior Home Ministry officials to Pakistan at the time of November 26 attacks are mysteries in themselves. Experts were also of the view that Mumbai attackers were facilitated with vehicles as they needed two vehicles and huge arms and ammunition to fight for almost two days was not possible to carry from long. It was doubted being provided there itself as a tea stall adjacent to Taj hotel is missing ever since.

One of the speakers was of the view that somehow by divine intervention and grace, the encounter of LT Colonel Purohit was averted. There was unanimity on the issue that had Kasab not been caught alive, the Hindu terror theory would have been established by now? But the question still remains unanswered: Why Lt Colonel Purohit?

(Vinod Kumar Shukla)