“He was not a frequent visitor, but whenever he came, he met local youth and always encouraged them to join the defence forces. He was a man who could easily win people’s hearts with his ability to mingle with them easily.”
That is how Sadashiva Tekar of Anewadi village describes the former naval commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who owns land and a farmhouse there, though he had moved to Mumbai several years ago.
Mr. Jadhav, who is from Jawali taluk of Satara district in Maharashtra, on the boundary with Karnataka, is at present in custody in Pakistan, facing the death sentence for “espionage and sabotage”.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Tekar said the local people who had known Mr. Jadhav were convinced that he was not guilty of the charges framed by the Pakistani military authorities. Mr. Tekar, a former taluk panchayat vice-president who helped Mr. Jadhav purchase the agriculture land, said it was over two years since the former naval officer had last visited the village and spent time in his farmhouse.
Praying for release
Mr. Tekar recalled that during his visits, Mr. Jadhav would bring books and stationery for students of the local school.
Anil Gujjar, a local journalist with a Marathi newspaper, said ever since a Pakistani military court had pronounced the death sentence, people of the district had held protests against Pakistan and praying for Mr. Jadhav’s release. “The local residents recently held a protest at Jawali taluk headquarters demanding that the Indian government ensure the safe release of Mr. Jadhav,” he said.
