Suicide squad wants to cross Pak border

Chitale today said that 600 of the 1,500 youths trained and ‘‘brain-washed’’ by his foundation are serving in the armed forces. ‘‘Our commandoes are not against any community but are intended to serve as a back-up for the security agencies. We want the Government to use them by sponsoring activities in the enemy camp,’’ he said.

The internal enemy, Chitale said, are the corrupt officials acting at the behest of Pakistan-sponsored agencies.

Rifles, army medals and pictures of Indo-Pak war — he was posted at Sialkot in 1971 — provide a perfect setting for his ‘‘headquarters’’ in the Deccan Gymkhana area.

Asked what happens to the men after the fortnight-long training, Gulabrao Jadhav, MMF’s chief commandant, said: ‘‘Depending on the area you live in, we provide you with an MMF board to set up an office. Your credentials are checked so that the training is not misused. When people come with problems, your name is enough to set things right without the use of force.’’

On MMF’s future, Chitale said: ‘‘We may continue the academy or dissolve it. In either case, the youth we train will uphold peace and justice.’’

Born in 1945 in Jamkhindi, Karnataka, Chitale was commissioned in the Army in 1968 and served for decades before seeking retirement.

Political ambitions though were not for him as he learnt the hard way in civic polls. Not once but twice.