Panaji:
The motive behind the Diwali-eve blast
in Goa is still not clear more than a fortnight after two associates
of the rightwing Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha (SS) were killed in
the explosion while ferrying a bomb, a senior police official said.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji Monday
evening, Superintendent of Police (CID) Atmaram Deshpande said that
the police were still trying to figure out why Malgonda Patil and
Yogesh Naik, both SS associates, carried out the blast in a crowded
area in Margao, a major town in South Goa, 35 km from here.
"We do not know the exact motive
behind the blast yet. But with the recent arrests, investigations
into the blast will definitely quicken," the officer said.
Deshpande
was referring to Vinay Talekar, 30, and Vinayak Patil, 27, both
originally from Karnataka who were arrested for their alleged
involvement in the blast.
Both were known for their proximity to
Malgonda Patil.
Meanwhile, differences have cropped up
between the Maharashtra and the Goa police records vis-a-vis three
persons from Baramati in Maharashtra, who were interrogated by Goa's
special investigation team (SIT) appointed to probe the case.
According to an entry made in the
station diary at the Baramati rural police station, Vithal Jadhav,
Mahadev Jadhav and Pradeep Mane, all residents of Baramati, were
taken into custody by the Goa police officials for the Margao blast
probe.
Police sources said Malgonda Patil was
using a SIM card formerly belonging to Mahadev Jadhav, a farmer from
Baramati. In his deposition to the SIT, Mahadev Jadhav said he had
lost the SIM card two years ago.
When asked if the trio were officially
detained by the police for the blast, Deshpande said none of the
three has been detained.
"We asked them to come here. They came
to Goa. They were subjected to interrogation. Their statement was
recorded. Then they were asked to go. No one was arrested or
detained. There is no question of them being in our custody at any
time," Deshpande said.
"Why the Baramati police made that
station diary, you will have to ask them. The three persons were
free to go anytime," he added.
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