Hindutva connection in Margao blasts under scanner

“We have found certain objectionable material during the raid at Ashram. I can’t divulge anything right now but we have seized certain things,” Superintendent of Police (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande told reporters on Saturday.

Deshpande’s veiled information came hours after a team of police led by North Goa Superintendent of Police Bosco George raided Sanatan’s palatial Ashram at Ramnathi village near temple town of Ponda,20 km away from Panaji.

Police sources confirmed that some gadgets,similar to that confiscated from the blast site,were found in the ashram,which at the time of the raid housed 161 people. A blast in Goa’s commercial capital town of Margao had rocked the state on the eve of Diwali. While two persons,owing allegiance to Sanatan Saunstha,were killed in the blast,police had defused three bombs at different parts of the state.

The 19-year-old Saunstha,which has spread its tentacles across the state,was under scanner after the blasts. “We condemn the act. It is the unfortunate incident and we are cooperating with the police in their investigations,” the press release issued by Saunstha read.

The press note,which appeals the media not to jump to the gun while probe is on,does not speak anything about the two suspects,who died in the explosion. “You cannot hold two members responsible in isolation if they are part of organisation’s doctrine,” Deshpande said.

Police,however,were quick enough to add that not all the members present in the ashram might know about the bombs. “There must be a core group which was working within,” the PRO said.

This is not the first time that Sanatan has a brush with the activities related to terrorism. In 2008,Anti terrorism squad of Maharashtra police had arrested six accused for the involvement in planting Intensive Explosive device (IED) at the auditoriums in Thane,Vashi and a movie theatre in Panvel.

The hand of Sanatan Saunstha along with its like-minded organization ‘Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS)’ was suspected in it. In Goa’s case,HJS has completely distanced itself from the blasts. “If media is linking HJS to blasts than they should resist themselves from spreading false news,” HJS’ Goa convenor Jayesh Thali said.