Panaji, Oct 17 (IANS) Two people were detained in Goa in connection with the blast in Margao late Friday night, which killed one and injured another. The police said another blast was averted after a bag containing gelatin sticks was flung from a truck.
Those detained were picked up early Saturday morning. The police have not identified them so far.
Superintendent of Police Vishram Borkar said that in Sancoale, near the port town of Vasco, the other blast was averted when alert occupants of a truck flung a bag into a nearby field when they heard a clock ticking inside.
"The zipped bag contained a timer device and a few sticks of gelatine, which was diffused by our bomb disposal squad late in the night," Borkar said.
The truck was carrying nearly 40 people and was headed for a narakasura competition, where thousands of people were gathered to see several giant effigies being judged for prizes and then set on fire, as part of a popular Diwali tradition in Goa.
Meanwhile Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik confirmed links of the right wing Hindu organisation Sanatan Saunstha to Friday night's blast near Grace Church in Margao, 35 km from here.
Officials alleged that the scooter that was blown up by the blast had explosives belonging to Nishad Bakhale, a member of the Saunstha. Of the two men on the scooter, Malgondi Patil was killed and Yodesh Naik was injured.
The police said both were members of the Saunstha. Patil succumbed to his injuries a few hours after the blast, while Naik is in critical condition and is being operated upon at the Goa Medical College, near Panaji.
Ravi Naik said police were searching the Saunstha's headquarters in the temple town of Ramnathi in the Ponda region of Goa.
A red alert has been sounded across the state.
earlier:
Red Alert in Goa after Blast, Police Search Sanatan Saunstha Office
Panaji, Oct 17 (IANS) Goa has declared a red alert after explosives carried on a scooter by two men went off, killing one of them and critically injuring the other, in Margao town in southern part of the state. Officials have blamed a right-wing Hindu group for the incident.
State Home Minister Ravi Naik said the scooter belonged to Nishad Bakhale, an alleged member of the Sanatan Saunstha, a right-wing Hindu group, headquartered in the temple town of Ramnathi in the Ponda region of Goa. Bakhale has been detained for questioning by the police.
Naik told reporters in Margao, some 35 km from here, that the police have searched the group's headquarters after the low intensity blast Friday night.
Meanwhile, police said Malgondi Patil and Yogesh Naik, who were riding the Honda Eterno scooter, were members of the group.
Patil, however, succumbed to his injuries a few hours after the blast, while Naik was in a critical condition at the Goa Medical College, near Panaji.
The blast took place near the Grace Church in Margao, where some effigies of Narkasur, a mythical demon, were being burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil as part of the Diwali festival.
Police superintendent Atmaram Deshpande said a red alert was declared after the blast and it would remain until the situation stabilises.