Mumbai: Anti-terror squad detains man with links to Hindutva outfit
Eight country-made bombs were found at Vaibhav Raut’s home in Nalasopara during a raid, said officials.
An anti-terror squad on Friday detained a man linked to Hindutva outfit Sanathan Sanstha after raiding his home in Mumbai’s Nalasopara locality, ANI reported. The police reportedly found eight country-made bombs.
Officials identified the accused as Vaibhav Raut. The Sanathan Sanstha said Raut was not an active member but confirmed that it would provide him legal assistance.
“Raut had been externed by the Palghar police in connection with a beef ban case,” said the organisation’s lawyer Sanjeev Punelikar. “While he is a Hindutva worker, he is not a member of the Sanathan Sanstha. I doubt the Anti-terror Squad’s claim that he hoarded explosives.”
Early morning visuals from Vaibhav Raut's residence in Mumbai's Nala Sopara area from where Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) recovered some suspicious material yesterday. Vaibhav Raut detained. More details awaited. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/fVeZVQRuAc
— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018
The explosives have been sent to the Mumbai Forensic Science Laboratory. “We want to know source of these explosives and how Raut intended to use them and therefore his custodial interrogation is necessary,” an unidentified official told The Indian Express.
Six Sanathan Sanstha members were investigated for their role in the 2009 Goa blast. Two of the accused were killed when their scooter exploded near a local Narakasur effigy burning parade on the eve of Diwali.