Team Herald
PANJIM: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Barkat Ali, a resident of Karojem-Cuncolim, who was involved in the Balli riot incident and accused of burning two Scheduled Tribes (ST) youths to death.
Barkat, who had fled Goa after the riot and settled in Saudi Arabia, was detained by Riyadh Police and deported to India, following a red corner notice issued against him. After his landing in Delhi, CBI took Ali's custody and he was produced before a district court in south Goa and remanded in judicial custody.
It may be recalled that the State government had transferred nine different cases related to Balli riots to CBI, which named Ali as one of the accused in its chargesheet. Ali and the other accused were charged with unlawful assembly rioting, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and several other offences under IPC.
In 2022, South Goa principal district and Sessions judge Irshad Agha acquitted 13 accused charged by CBI in connection with the two deaths.
The incident took place following an agitation by United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) in Balli at Quepem which turned violent.
It is pertinent to note that despite the lookout notice against him, he did not return when his mother passed away four years ago.
Barkat’s family comprises his wife, children residing at Karojem besides four brothers.
His family runs business of collecting scrap.