Goa blast: NIA releases identity of fugitives

Panaji, Sept 21 (IBNS) As the Goa court fast tracked the infamous Margao blast trial, National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently released pictures of four fugitive militants involved in the explosion.

The fugitives are identified as Hindu extremists namely Rudra Patil, Sarang Kulkarni, Praveen Limkar and Jay Prakash alias Anna.

The country's premier anti terror agency has publicly released their photographs for information to trace their whereabouts.

With the fresh revelation, the number of accused involved in the deadly blast have risen to 12 of the eight (two dead) currently being tried by the special court.

The Special Court in Panaji designated under the NIA Act has decided to fast track the trial by holding its hearing for five days starting from next month.

The agency took over the probe from Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Goa police that found Sanatan Sanstha members were involved in the October 16, 2009 blast.

The explosion was allegedly triggered by disciples of the Hindu outfit and killed two of its own men - Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik - when the bomb exploded prematurely while they were ferrying it to the target sites.

Six more persons arrested during the probe were chargesheeted on May 18, 2010 under serious charges of conspiracy, waging war and under the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Advocate Sanjiv Punalkar, representing the six blast accused had made an application before the Court for speedy trial as the accused men are languishing in the jail for two years.

The trials will be held on October 1, 13, 20, 29 and November 15 of which three days are kept for full day trial.

The advocate has expressed dissatisfaction over the development claiming the whole over-enthusiasm of NIA smacks of political influence by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

"NIA has become tool in the hands of Chidambaram. Chidambaram's aim is not justice but to win the elections in UP. The whole exercise is disgusting and shameful," Punalkar alleged.

He further said that NIA has lost its credibility.

(Reporting by John Edwards)