The Goa home ministry has said that Malgonda Patil, prime accused in the Margao blast, was also a managing trustee of two more Hindu organisations besides his association with the right wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha.
The names of these two Hindu organisations -- Dharma Prachar Sabha and Hindu Dharma Prathisthan -- had surfaced publicly for the first time since October 16, when a blast triggered panic in the commercial town of Margao in south Goa.
The record furnished on the floor of the House during the ongoing state legislative assembly session has confirmed Patil's links to these two institutions.
Patil (28), a native of Sangli in Maharashtra, till now was known only for his links with Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing Hindu organisation operating from Ramnathi village of Goa.
Patil died when the bomb he had allegedly planned to plant triggered prematurely.
Yogesh Patil (29), a Goa native, also died in the blast, which occurred on Diwali eve and was allegedly a part of larger conspiracy to trigger serial explosions in the state.
Home Minister Ravi Naik in a statement in the floor of the House said gelatin sticks, detonators and timer circuits were used to set off the explosion. He said that immediately after the blast, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, along with Fatorda constituency Legislator Damodar Naik, had visited the spot.
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar of the Bharatiya Janata Party had earlier questioned the police's move to allow VIPs at the spot even before it was thoroughly checked by the bomb disposal squad.
BJP legislator Vijay Pai Khot had raised the question about the timing of VIPs' visit and arrival of the squad during the current assembly session.
However, the home minister refrained from specifying the timing and said, "Soon after the blast, the BDS reached the spot... After visiting the spot, the squad declared the venue as safe."
Margao blast investigation has been handed over to the special investigation team of the state police.
The case will be soon transferred to the National Investigation Agency as per the directives of the Union home ministry.
