OLD GOA, MAY 20
Home Minister Ravi Naik on Thursday said the Goa Police will seek a copy of the charge sheet filed by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) into the Margao bomb blast case, before the Home Department conducts an inquiry into the Sanathan Saunstha.
It may be noted that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had refused to ban the Sanatan Saunstha till the home department examined the charge sheet filed by the NIA in the Margao bomb blast case.
NIA had filed the chargesheet before the district court on Monday, indicting 11 accused, two of whom have died, in the Margao bomb blast and a conspiracy to execute serial blasts in the State. The Sanathan Saunstha was under observation after its activists were linked to the Margao blast, which took place on the eve of Divali last year.
Speaking to Herald along the sidelines of a function at the Old Goa Urban Co-Operative Credit Society, Naik said: “As far as NIA has filed a charge sheet, we have asked the police to seek a copy of the charge sheet. Once we get it, we will go through the charge sheet and only then will we conduct our inquiry in the matter.”
Two Sanathan Saunstha activists had died on the spot while carrying the explosives and four were arrested by police during the ensuing investigations. When asked if he was seeking a ban on the Sanathan Saunstha, the home minister said: “Even though people have been demanding a ban on the Sanathan, we have to examine reports of both the Goa Police and the NIA.”
“The Goa police had earlier prepared a report while it was conducting investigations in the matter. The NIA also conducted its investigation and recently filed its charge sheet in the court. Therefore, everything is dependent on these two reports and that is why I have asked the State Police to obtain a copy of the charge sheet filed by the NIA.”
Responding to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s comments that he would not initiate any action till he got a report from the home minister, Naik reiterated that the reports of the Goa Police and the NIA would be carefully examined.
We will examine both these reports and only then can we decide on whether or not to take further action on the Sanathan Saunstha,” Naik said.
