Book Summary
Who Killed Karkare? – The Real Face of Terrorism in India by S.M. Mushrif is a controversial and investigative book that challenges the mainstream narrative around terrorism in India, particularly the events surrounding the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The author argues that Hemant Karkare, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief of Maharashtra Police, was not killed by Pakistani terrorists during the attacks, as officially claimed, but was eliminated by a nexus of Hindutva extremists and insiders in the Indian security apparatus. Mushrif supports his theory by pointing to Karkare’s ongoing investigations into “Hindutva terror” and his documentation of right-wing groups allegedly involved in bomb blasts previously blamed on Islamic terrorists. The book presents a scathing critique of the Intelligence Bureau and other institutions, accusing them of misguiding terror probes and shielding certain communal forces, thus distorting the real face of terrorism in India.
About the author
S.M. Mushrif is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Inspector General of Police in Maharashtra. Known for his integrity and investigative acumen, Mushrif played a key role in exposing the Telgi stamp paper scam—one of India’s biggest financial frauds. Post-retirement, he became an outspoken voice on issues of communalism, corruption, and misuse of state institutions. Through his writing, especially in Who Killed Karkare?, he draws upon decades of policing experience to present an insider’s perspective on how terrorism is investigated—and sometimes manipulated—within India’s law enforcement system.
