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Although twelve reputed members of Forghan are reported to have been arrested for the murders of Motahari and Major General Mohammed Vali Gharani, former army Chief of Staff, the government was releasing little information on the case. Leaflets left by the group tried to portray its members as devoted to "Islam without the clergy." But many observers, in fact, believe that the professionally carried-out assassinations were the work of former SAVAK agents bent on creating anarchy or of vengeance squads associated with former top officials who have been executed.
In any case, the regime was taking no chances. Khomeini announced that the revolutionary militias, known as the Guardians, would henceforth constitute a special armed force responsible only to the Revolutionary Council. The militias are expected to be a deterrent against further attempts on the leadership of the revolution—either from the left or from remnants of SAVAK.