Preetu Nair,TNN
PANAJI: The probe into Friday night’s blast at Margao has revealed that Sanatan Sanstha, the right-wing Hindu group allegedly involved in the
blast, may have shifted its base from Maharashtra to Goa. The state government said it was investigating if any local politician was involved.
According to police, one of the four bombs planted by the group exploded seriously injuring two Sanatan Sanstha members. One of them, Malgonda Patil, died later in hospital. The other, Yogesh Naik, is battling for life at the Goa medical college and hospital. Two bombs were also defused in Margao and another near Shantadurga temple at Sancoale on Friday night.
‘‘We are inquiring if any politician has played a part in the circumstances that led to the blast and if they did play any role, to what extent they are involved,’’ state home minister Ravi Naik told TOI on Sunday. ‘‘No organization can destroy Goa’s peace and harmony without local political support,’’ he added.
At the moment though the probe is about the role of the Sanatan Sanstha in the blast. Police claim there are strong signs of its complicity. ‘‘Investigations have revealed that Sanatan Sanstha is shifting its base to Goa from Maharashtra. They want to make Goa their headquarters,’’ said DIG Ravindra Yadav. The Sanatan Sanstha has denied their involvement.
Cops have interrogated the Sanatan’s Ponda unit trustees and searched their printing press at Margao. There was no register giving details of its employees at the press, which was ‘‘quite suspicious’’, police said. Seventeen employees were working at the time of the raid. Police said most of them were from Maharashtra and stayed at the press itself.
On Sunday, Goa police constituted a special investigation team (SIT) headed by SP Omprakash Kudtarcar for the probe. ‘‘We have formed an SIT to conduct thorough investigations and ensure that the culprits are brought to book,’’ said DGP Bhimsen Bassi.
DIG Yadav said the gelatin sticks used in the IEDs (improvised explosive devices) found at Margao and Sancoale showed they were procured from Nagpur. ‘‘The similarity in the make and design of the circuit of the IEDs found at both the places reveal a singular and wider conspiracy,’’ he said. There are several mining quarries in Goa, which regularly buy gelatin sticks for industrial use. ‘‘We are trying to verify how the accused got the gelatin sticks,’’ said a senior police officer involved in the probe.
Asked if the role of Sanatan Sanstha has been clearly established in the case, Yadav evaded a direct reply. ‘‘One Sanatan member has been arrested and we are investigating.’’
Home minister Naik said the case would be cracked soon. He said, ‘‘The police will ensure that Goa remains a peaceful state and its communal harmony is not disturbed by such activities.’’
19 October 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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