December 24, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 25, 1429

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: The Indian government told parliament on Tuesday that there was no conspiracy other than the terror attack on Mumbai last month that killed a police officer trusted by Muslims and over whose death a senior minister representing them had expressed misgivings.

Trying to cap the flaming controversy raised by his ministerial colleague A. R. Antulay over the killing of Maharasthra police Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no need for further inquiry into the murder of police officer.

“There is no need for further inquiry and the matter ends,” Dr Singh told the media in parliament premises after he emerged from the Lok Sabha at the conclusion of its session on Tuesday.

He said Home Minister P. Chidambaram had clearly spelt out government’s position and Mr Antulay was satisfied with the explanation given in the Lok Sabha.

Ruling out conspiracy behind the killing of Mr Karkare and his other police colleagues, Mr Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha: “The investigations have reached the conclusion that there is no truth whatsoever in the suspicion that there was a conspiracy to eliminate Mr Karkare and others.”

Asked why Mr Antulay, a Maharashtrian Muslim and former chief minister of the state, went public with his doubts instead of raising it in the cabinet meeting, the prime minister quipped: “To err is human”.

Mr Chidambaram’s statement sought to put to rest the controversy over Mr Antulay’s remarks questioning the circumstances surrounding the killing of Mr Karkare when terrorists struck Mumbai on November 26.

“The investigators have reached the conclusion that there is no truth whatsoever in the suspicion that there was a conspiracy to eliminate Karkare or others,” Mr Chidambaram stated. “There is also no truth in the different versions that have been circulated about the movement of Karkare on that fateful day,” the statement said.

“Karkare appears to have acted, after conferring with his colleagues, with speed and purpose in response to the crisis situation. While it is indeed unfortunate that three brave officers and their men boarded one Qualis vehicle the circumstances in which they came under fire and were killed were tragically fortuitous.”

“In the days before his death, questions were raised about the genuineness of the investigations that were being conducted by Karkare in a terrorist case,” said Chidambaram, who was not allowed to read out his statement and had to table it instead.“After his death, questions are being raised about the circumstances in which he was killed. In my view, both are wrong and deeply regrettable.”

The opposition had been demanding Mr Antulay’s dismissal over his comments. He was perceived as having hinted that Mr Karkare’s death could be linked to the September 29 Malegaon bombing he was investigating and in which members of Hindu radical groups are the main suspects.