Author: IANS
Publication: Samachar.com
Date: November 2, 2009
URL: http://publication.samachar.com/topstorytopmast.php?sify_url=http://sify.com/news/jihadi-terror-and-hindu-rightwing-terror-are-different-police-news-national-jlckjmgcida.html
The Goa police believe there is a difference
between jihadi terrorism and right wing Hindu terrorism.
A senior police official who is investigating
the Diwali eve blast carried out by members affiliated to the Hindu group
Sanatan Sanstha (SS) in Margao, a major town in South Goa 35 km from here,
said that the Oct 16 blast was aimed at targeting a public function, unlike
other threats by jihadi groups received by Goa in the past.
"The aims and goals of both groups differ.
Jihadi elements have threatened Goa's coastline in the past. We have also
received threats of places frequented by tourists being targeted in the past.
But this is different," Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande told
reporters.
"The recent attack shows that the target
was a public function frequented by many people. Chaos was perhaps their intended
objective," he added.
Goa, a tourist haven, has received several
terror threats in the past especially from October to March, the period which
attracts the most tourists to the state.
The threats from jihadi groups, according
to police, targeted popular night spots.
After the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai last
year, Goa even saw bunkers and gun turrets all along its beaches after intelligence
agencies warned of a terror threat from the sea.
Amidst these increasing number of terror threats
from jihadi groups over the last few years, the Diwali eve blast by the Hindu
group SS could have caught the police off guard.
Two people, both members of the SS, died in
the Diwali eve blast when detonator-rigged gelatine sticks they were ferrying
on a scooter exploded. Malgonda Patil, a Sangli-based high ranking member
of the SS died of injuries a few hours after the blast; the other scooter
rider Yogesh Naik succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
Both Patil and Naik, who have been accused
in the blast case, were parking their scooter near a festive gathering 100
metres from the district administration headquarters building when the gelatine
sticks exploded. Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was in close proximity
when the incident occurred.
The police have arrested two people in connection
with the Goa blast. Both the accused Vinay Talekar, 30, and Vinayak Patil,
27, are originally from Karnataka.
