The Week India — November 12, 2017

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The Beretta had travelled

halfway across the world

to serve its fateful destiny.

Manufactured in 1934 in Italy,

it had been taken to Abyssinia

by one of Mussolini’s officers.

It was ‘liberated’ from him by

an officer of the 4th Gwalior

infantry, which had been sent

to accept Italy’s surrender.

It then exchanged many

hands before ending up with

Parchure’s aide.

29 Jan: Nathuram and Apte return to Delhi. They book

a retiring-room at Old Delhi railway station.

30 Jan: Nathuram, Apte and Karkare go to the

woods behind the Birla Temple, Mandir Marg, for

target practice. At 4:15 pm, Nathuram leaves for

Birla House; Karkare and Apte leave minutes later.

Nathuram surrenders to

the police. Badge is arrest-

ed in Poona the next day

and becomes approver.

Karkare and Apte are

arrested from Bombay on

February 13. On February

1 0, 1949, Nathuram and

Apte are sentenced to

death. Life imprisonment

for Karkare, Madanlal,

Gopal, Shankar and

Parchure. On November

1 5, 1949, Nathuram Godse

and Narayan Apte are

hanged in Am bala prison.

Nathuram folds his hands and says ‘Namaste’; pushing aside one of

the girls walking with Gandhi, he shoots the Mahatma.

Birla House:

At 5:10 pm

Gandhi leaves

his room.

Walking briskly,

he reaches the

prayer ground.

Gandhi greets

the crowd.

‘Namaste’

Hey Ram

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THE WEEK Š NOVEMBER 12, 2017^53