PANAJI
In a shocking incident, three passenger buses were discovered gutted in a fire early Monday morning at the KTC bus-stand in Panaji which the police following investigations concluded it was foul play and have arrested a 21-year-old youth from Satara.
Two of the buses belonged to the State-owned KTC while the third was a private bus, according to the complaint filed by the KTC bus depot manager Bhikaji Phadte.
Phadte has pegged the damages at an approximate Rs 64 lakhs and has said that the incident occurred between midnight and 3 am on Monday.
Satara native Omkar Shilevant (21) who was apprehended from around the KTC bus-stand by the police was by Monday evening placed under arrest.
Police said, Shilevant has admitted to the crime and that they have booked him under section 435 of the Indian Penal Code which deals with punishment for mischief by fire or explosive substance intended to cause monetary damage.
The accused has also been charged with section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Police sub-inspector, Mayur Panshikar is investigating the case which is supervised by Police Inspector Nikhil Palekar, DySP Sudesh Naik and SP Shobit Saxena.
