Margao blast: four members of Hindu group held, toll goes to 2
Panaji
PTI
Four persons belonging to a right-wing Hindu group linked to Malegaon blast accused sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur were detained today in connection with the explosion in Goa's Margao town in which two members of the outfit were killed.
Police were probing the links of right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha with the blast that took place at 9.30 last night when explosives kept in a scooter went off on a busy street in Margao, 30 km from Panaji.
Home Minister Ravi Naik said the explosives may have got triggered before being planted at a designated spot.
"They wanted to disturb a traditional Diwali-eve event 'Narakasur' effigy competition in the heart of the town as the blast took place only a few metres away from the competition venue," he said.
A person named Melgunda Patil, hailing from Maharashtra, was killed in the blast while another, Yogesh Naik, succumbed to his injuries this morning, Naik said.
Police raided Sanatan Sanstha headquarters at Ramnathi in Ponda town, 20 km from Margao, following the blast and four persons owing allegiance to the Sanstha were detained for questioning, SP Bosco George said.
Two of the detained persons have been identified as Suresh Naik, brother of Yogesh Naik, and Virendra Marathe, manager of the ashram where the activities of the Sanstha are run.
{{/usCountry}}Two of the detained persons have been identified as Suresh Naik, brother of Yogesh Naik, and Virendra Marathe, manager of the ashram where the activities of the Sanstha are run.
{{/usCountry}}Suresh Naik was the owner of the scooter in which the explosives were kept. He had bought the vehicle from the Sanstha's disciple Nishad Bakle four years ago," the SP said.