Pune connection in Goa blast chargesheet Pune The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet in the Goa blast case has again brought to fore a Pune link. Among the 11 Sanatan Sanstha members named — they include the two who died in the pre-Diwali explosion in Goa on October 16, 2009 — is Sarang Akolkar, a Sanatan sadhak (seeker) from Pune.
Akolkar is one of the four absconding accused in the Goa blast case. The chargesheet submitted in a Goa court on Monday also states it was in Pune that Sanstha member Dhananjay Ashtekar assembled 12 electronic detonator circuits, of which five are suspected to have been sent to Goa for attacking groups taking part in the Narakasura competition, a local Hindu festival where effigies are burnt. Ashtekar, an engineering student from Kolhapur, is now in jail. The said explosives were tested in a jungle near Talaulim village on August 24-25, 2009. On October 16, Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, died when the bomb they were allegedly carrying to plant at a Diwali function, went off prematurely at Margao. Sources said Akolkar, aged about 25, was a full-time activist of the Sanstha and was appointed the Pune district convener of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), a sister concern of the Sanstha. He co-ordinated several campaigns launched by the HJS in Pune, including one in June 2009, against Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, claiming the film shows Hindus killing and burning Muslims and gives a message that Hindus are cruel. Despite repeated attempts, Sunil Ghanwat, the Pune co-ordinator of the HJS was not available for comment. Deputy Inspector General Ravindra Kadam of the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) told The Indian Express that his teams were looking for Akolkar. When assked about Akolkar’s role in the Goa blast, Kadam said he won’t comment as the NIA investigation was on. Meanwhile, the ATS and the special branch of Pune police have started gathering intelligence on full-time workers and other radical Hindus connected to the HJS, Sanatan Sanstha and other right wing Hindu groups in Pune. Investigators are also probing whether there was any link between the Goa blast accused and the Abhinav Bharat members arrested for the September 2008 Malegaon blast. Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Rakesh Dhawade, Ajay Rahirkar, all hailing from Pune, were arrested for their alleged involvement in Malegaon blast. ‘No link with Manchar blast’ There is no clue yet in the low-intensity blast in a state transport bus in Manchar Terminus in Pune district on February 16, 2009. Detonators and gelatin sticks had been used. Investigators had suspected involvement of local communal groups. However, no arrest has been made so far. Ravindra Kadam, DIG (ATS) said there was no link between the Goa and Manchar incidents. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/pune-connection-in-goa-blast-chargesheet/620701/
