Panaji: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested the last accused involved in the 2011 Balli riots case, wherein two tribal youths were charred to death. The probe agency arrested Barkat Ali, who was absconding for nearly eight years and had settled in Saudi Arabia.
A lookout notice and a Red Corner Notice were issued against Ali. Based on the Red Corner Notice, Riyadh police in Saudi Arabia identified the accused and detained him. They informed the CBI through Interpol.
Riyadh police deported Ali to India, and the CBI took him into custody in New Delhi. Ali was produced before the district court in South Goa and was remanded in judicial custody.
The CBI said that Ali was seen in photographs during the agitation, and that he was not cooperating with the investigation.
State govt had transferred nine different cases related to the Balli riots to the CBI. After the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet in the case and named Ali as one of the accused.
The CBI charged Ali and others under IPC Section 143 (unlawful assembly), Section 147 (rioting), Section 148 (resorting to rioting armed with a deadly weapon), Section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 427 (mischief) and Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house) read with Section 149.
In 2022, the principal district and sessions judge, South Goa, Irshad Agha, acquitted 13 accused charged by the CBI of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of the two tribal youths during the agitation of the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) at Balli, Quepem.
In May 2011, members of UTAA held an agitation at Balli junction, blocking NH 17. Despite repeated requests by the South Goa collector and SP (South) to clear the highway, the group continued the agitation in an aggressive manner, following which it turned violent.