12 Sep 2008, 0526 hrs IST,TNN MUMBAI: The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Thursday filed a 1,025-page chargesheet against six persons for their alleged role in the bomb blasts in two auditoriums in Thane and Vashi. They have also been chargesheeted for a bomb that did not go off in a theatre in Panvel.
Th six persons - Ramesh Hanumant Gadkari (50), Mangesh Nikam (34), Santosh Angre (26), a homeopath Dr Hemant Chalke, Vikram Bhave (26) and a police patil Hari Bhau Divekar -were sevaks of the Sanatan Sanstha, a Hindu revivalist group and sister organisation of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, and were arrested in mid-June . The police claimed that they had recovered a large number of timer devices, chemcials, circuits and other things used in making the bombs. "The chargesheet was filed in additional chief metropolitan magistrate's court. We have listed 197 persons as witnesses in the case. The accused are still in Arthur Road jail," said an officer. On May 31, a bomb exploded in the parking lot of Gakdari Rangayatan theatre in Thane, injuring seven persons. A play, Amhi Pachpute was to be staged there. The Sanstha had protested the play saying that it had portrayed Hindu gods and goddesses in poor light. The arrested were also booked for their alleged role in the Vishnu Bhave auditorium blast in Vashi and planting a bomb in a Panvel cinema hall. The ATS said that Gadkari, Bhave and Nikam knew how to make bombs. They were all present when the bombs were being manufactured. During interrogation, the accused said they had funded the operations from their savings. Gadkari had sold his shop to became a full-time sevak. While Gadkari and Angre stayed at Sanatan Ashram in Devat near Panvel, Nikam was arrested from Satara and Bhave was picked up from Wadala. The bombs were manufactured at Bhave's house. During the raids at Bhave's and Nikam's homes and farms in Warsai village in Pen, ATS seized two revolvers, huge quantity of ammonium nitrate powder, 20 detonators, 19 gelatin sticks, timers, voltage meters, two radio circuits and remote controls. Investigators said Divekar was arrested for hiding and trying to destroy the explosives. Comment: Goans should be very concerned about this as the base of the HJS is in Goa. The HJS was taking out hate exhibitions all over Goa which was attended even by Digambar Kamat and the MGP MLA's. Wonder if any organisation or MLA is taking up this matter in the assembly. Also whether the police have put this organisation under the scanner.
