This Article is From Oct 17, 2009

Two detained in connection with Margao blast

Panaji: Two persons were detained on Saturday in connection with the explosion in Margao town in Goa in which a member of a right-wing Hindu group, allegedly linked to Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh, was killed and another critically injured.

The blast took place at around 9.30 pm on Friday night when explosives kept in a scooter went off on a busy street in the heart of the town, 30 km from Panaji.

Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik said police were probing the links of right-wing group Sanatan Saunstha with the blast.

"The scooter which was carrying the explosives belongs to Saunstha's disciple Nishad Bakle," he said.

A man named Melgunda Patil was killed in the blast while another, identified as Yogesh Naik, is undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College hospital. Police said both belonged to the Saunstha, which is allegedly linked to Pragya Singh.

The Sanatan Saunstha headquarters at Ramnathi in Ponda, 20 kms from Margao, was raided last night following the blast and two persons have been detained from that town in the wee hours of the day, police said. Further details about the detained persons were still awaited.

The blast, which occurred a few metres away from the site of 'Narkasur' effigy competition, a ritual held on the eve of Diwali, gutted three vehicles. Police have also found a bag containing a watch and an electric circuit about 20 kms from the explosion site.
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