Mumbai:
The decision of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare to rush to Cama hospital in pursuit of the 26/11 terrorists was taken on the "spur of the moment" and on his own volition, a key witness told a special court in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The statement seeks to set at rest the controversy sparked off by former Union minister A R Antulay who had expressed doubts about the killing of the ATS chief by the terrorists by suggesting a link with Malegaon blasts that were being probed by him.
According to prosecution, ATS chief Karkare had gone to Cama hospital along with encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamate. All three were shot dead by Pakistani gunmen.
Deposing before the court, constable Niteen Matne told prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that he was one of the members of the escort team of Karkare as a wireless operator in mobile van.
When Karkare heard about terrorists unleashing terror he rushed to the hospital from the lane leading towards Mahanagarpalika Marg, the constable claimed.
Before leaving, Karkare had instructed a group of police officers to guard the rear gate of Cama hospital to prevent terrorists from escaping. He left with Kamate and Salaskar towards the hospital's front gate.
Constable Matne told the court that the three officers went to Cama hospital in a Qualis police jeep with Salaskar in driver's seat, Kamate on his left and Karkare in the middle.
The driver of the vehicle, Jayant Patil, and Salaskar's assistant, Arun Jadhav, were seated behind.
Only Kamate had an AK-47 rifle while Constable Arun Jadhav had a carbine, the witness said, adding that they went to the hospital at about 11.55 pm.
"Within seven minutes I heard sound of continuous firing coming from the direction of the nearby St Xavier's college. We thought it must be firing by police and remained in the same position where we were stationed. After that there was complete silence," the witness said.
Constable Matne further said, "After about 25 minutes we proceeded towards the direction from where the sound of firing was heard. On reaching ATM centre of Corporation Bank we saw Karkare, Salaskar and Kamate lying injured. They were bleeding profusely and there were glass pieces and empty bullets strewn everywhere".
All the three injured officers were then taken to different hospitals in police jeeps where they were declared dead, the witness said.
Matne said he then went to Karkare's house and narrated the incident to his wife and from there came to Azad Maidan police station and filed an FIR.