No one to blame for Israeli’s disappearance: Kamat

PANAJI - No heads will roll in Goa after Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, who was on bail and who had claimed he had links with the home minister’s son, vanished without a trace last month.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat told reporters Monday that “no one was to blame” for his disappearance because a home ministry report did not hold anybody responsible.

“I received the report. It says no one is to be blamed for Atala’s disappearance because he was not in police custody,” Kamat said following a post cabinet press briefing.

“Once he is out on bail, the police need not keep a watch on him. Once they realise he was missing, they informed the court,” Kamat said, ruling out the possibility of any heads rolling for the lapse.

The Goa Police have issued a red corner notice against Atala, who has been linked to several policemen and politicians in the state.

Atala, an alleged drug dealer, was according to his former model girlfriend allegedly linked to Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik’s son. He had jumped bail in the first week of August and has since been missing.

There is speculation that he may have been killed by the drug mafia.

Atala was arrested after his girlfriend uploaded his videos on www.youtube.com showing him doing drugs and boasting about his connections to the police and politicians.

Six policemen have been arrested for their links to drug trade. Both Naik and his son Roy have denied having links with the Israeli.

–Indo Asian News Service