‘SANATAN SANSTHA MEMBERS WERE TERRORISTS’

The four Sanatan Sanstha members accused of carrying out the 2009 Diwali-eve blast in Goa were for the first time on July 20 referred to as terrorists by the state home department. State Home Minister Ravi Naik said in a written reply to the legislative assembly: “In the year 2009/10, four terrorists have been arrested by the Goa Police in bomb blast incidents, which took place at Margao and Verna respectively in the night of Diwali”. A local court framed charges against the four members namely Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar. Five other accused, also members of the Sanstha, are still absconding, the police said. The accused have been charged under penal provisions dealing with waging a war against the government, collecting arms and mischief. Charges have also been ordered to be framed under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.