October 19, 2009 Hindutva Fundamentalists and Margao blast in Goa

October 19, 2009
Hindutva Fundamentalists and Margao blast in Goa

India - Goa:

Herald front-page editorial, 18 October 2009


Tackle terrorists with iron hand

Terrorism has no religion. It must be put down with an iron hand. The blast in Margao, as well as the one averted in Sancoale, have brought to the fore the ugly face of terrorism in Goa. Fortunately, the bomb exploded before it could be planted, killing Malgonda Patil and critically injuring Yogesh Naik, the terrorists who planned to massacre dozens of innocent people. The bomb in Sancoale was detected by an alert youth. Had it exploded where it was planted – in a truck carrying 40 youth and a Narkasur for a competition – it would have taken a large number of lives. Those who made and planted it are yet to be brought to justice.
`
This dastardly terrorist attack was, first, intended to target the Diwali Narkasur festival, which is unique to Goa and Goans, but which the Hindu fundamentalist Sanatan Sanstha denounces as a glorification of evil. The second objective, far more sinister, was to instigate religious riots in Margao, which has a history of communal tension. This cowardly attempt to hurt Goan traditions and destroy the State’s communal harmony must be put down swiftly and decisively.

This is the second terrorist act linked to the Sanatan Sanstha, which is active mainly in Maharashtra and Goa, and has its national headquarters at Ramnathi. It is not linked, as police said yesterday, to the Malegaon bomb blasts, but to a crude bomb made from gelatine sticks that went off in the parking lot of Gadkari Rangaytan, a drama auditorium in Thane, Maharashtra, on the evening of June 4, 2008, just before the Marathi play ‘Aamhi Paachpute’ was about to begin, in which seven persons were injured.

The Sanatan Sanstha alleged that the play ridiculed Hindu Gods and the Hindu religion, and demanded that it should be stopped. The producers of the play refused to oblige. That is why it was targeted. Four days earlier, a similar unexploded explosive was found and defused in the Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, where the play was
also to be performed. This was just a day ahead of the IPL-2008 finals at the D Y Patil Stadium in nearby Nerul. A third bomb exploded outside a cinema theatre in Panvel that was showing the Bollywood film ‘Jodhaa-Akbar’, which the Sanatan Sanstha had denounced as denigrating the Hindu religion. Fortunately, no one was hurt in that blast.

Ramesh Gadkari, Mangesh Nikam, Vikram Bhave, Santosh Angre, Haribhau Divekar and Hemant Chalke, all Sanatan Sanstha activists, were arrested for making and planting these bombs, and are presently on trial for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act. The Sanstha claimed it had nothing to do with the bombs and bombers, just as it has done this time.

When these blasts took place last year, through these very columns, we urged the government and the police that they should thoroughly investigate the Sanstha, which has its national headquarters in Ramnathi, Goa, lest something similar happens here. Our plea was completely ignored by the powers-that-be. That could be because the wife
of a powerful minister in the Goa Cabinet is a strong sympathiser of the Sanatan Sanstha. Or it might be because of complacency and plain sloth.

But this time, the cause of action is in Goa itself. The objective of the bombs was to kill, maim and injure Goans. It was to try and shut down a unique Goan tradition – the Narkasur – which the Sanatan Sanstha hates. It was to take advantage of existing communal tensions and trigger riots in a State that prides itself on communal harmony and tolerance. It was to destroy the Goan way of life for some twisted fundamentalist religious beliefs. The government and the police must disregard interference from ministers and MLAs. They must investigate this case thoroughly, book all those suspected under the most stringent laws possible, and ensure that terrorism is never allowed to raise its ugly head in Goa.

---

Indian Express,
Oct 18, 2009

Margao blast: ATS searches Sanatan Sanstha office

Agencies

Goa blast
Police personnel help a person injured after a blast in Margao

Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths on Sunday conducted searches at an office here run by Sanatan Sanstha, a Hindu right-wing organisation allegedly linked with the Margao blast in which two of its members were killed.

The ATS personnel, who arrived here today, conducted searches along with state police at the office of the Sansthan, linked to 2008 Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, in Nesai near Margao town.

The ATS personnel will help the police ascertain whether there are links between Margao blasts and explosions that occurred in Maharashtra in 2008, police said.

Officials of the Sanstha, who were detained and interrogated yesterday, were again called today for questioning.

Five people, including ashram's manager Virendra Marathe and Prithviraj Hazare, editor of Sanstha's mouthpiece 'Sanatan Prabhat', were detained yesterday.

Ads by Google Maruti Ritz The Unanimous Winner, Has Been Rated the Best In Class By Auto Experts. Read More!www.MarutiSuzukiRitzRecord 45 Hours of TV Buy Tata Sky+ For Just Rs 4999 Limited Period Offer!www.tataskydth.inManchester-Qatar Airways All Inclusive Fares to Manchester! Best Deals Available on the Websitewww.qatarairways.com

"They were interrogated for more than 10 hours on Saturday at Margao police station," a senior police official stated. Raids were also conducted in Sanstha's ashram at Ramnathi village, near temple town of Ponda yesterday. Goa police had defused three bombs at the site after the blast on diwali eve. Police had confirmed that IED was used in the blast.