The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the Margao blast on the eve of Diwali on October 16 last year, on Monday filed a charge sheet against 11 sadhaks (seekers) of the Goa-based right-wing Hindu outfit ‘Sanatan Sanstha.'
Two of them are dead, four under arrest, and five absconding. The charges include criminal conspiracy and waging war against the country.
Those chargesheeted before Sessions Judge U.V. Bakre include Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik. Both sadhaks of Sanatan, they were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) they were allegedly carrying in their scooter compartment, went off accidentally. This took place at Margao, 35 km from here.
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Another IED was defused by police the same night some time later at Sancoale, around 15 km away from the site of the first blast.
The charge sheet has also named ‘sadhaks' Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar, all under arrest.
Prashant Juvekar (Maharashtra), Sarang Akolkar (Pune), Jayaprakash alias Anna, Rudra Patil (Sangli) and Prashant Ashtekar (Ratnagiri), are absconding.
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The accused have been charged under sections 120 (B), 121 (A), 122, 123, 427 of the Indian Penal Code read with 16, 17, 18, 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act.