The blast took place in Margao on the eve of Diwali, October 16, 2009. Explosives on a scooter went off on a street in the heart of the town around 9.30 pm, killing two.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed charges in the Goa blast case against 11 persons associated with the Sanatan Sanstha for “waging war against India”. But the right-wing Hindu group was not directly indicted by the NIA.
The blast took place in Margao on the eve of Diwali, October 16, 2009. Explosives on a scooter went off on a street in the heart of the town around 9.30 pm, killing two.
The NIA’s charge-sheet was filed under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against India), 122, 123 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code, read with sections 16, 17, 18 and 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.
The blast’s motive, the charge-sheet said, was to protest against the Narkasur competition held in Goa every year. The accused had written several letters to the state government to stop the competition, to no avail.
Recently, two accused were granted bail as neither the special investigation team (SIT) nor the NIA could frame charges within the mandatory 180 days after their arrest. For the accused in custody, the 180-day limit will expire on Tuesday.
The 3,000-page charge-sheet — filed before sessions judge UV Bakre — has named: Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar, all in jail; Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, killed when explosives went off on their scooter before they could plant them at the designated place; Prashant Juvekar, Sarang Akolkar, Jayaprakash, alias Anna, Rudra Patil
and Prashant Ashtekar, absconding.
The NIA’s probe has revealed that Dhananjay Ashtekar, an electronics engineering student, prepared 12 detonator circuits in Pune, of which five were brought to Goa in August, 2009.
The test IED was prepared with the help of gelatine sticks and exploded in the jungles adjoining Talaulim village on August 24-25, 2009, behind the house of Laxmikant Naik, the brother of deceased accused Yogesh.
The charge-sheet says that Maganokar was active in the conspiracy and unexploded material was found in his possession. It also names 250 witnesses, who are likely to be examined by the local court during trial.
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