PONDA
A 33-year-old rider was seriously injured after he was shot at by unidentified assailants in Bethora early Friday morning.
A dispute over a relationship with a woman is believed to have led to the incident.
According to reports, the incident took place at around 6 am when Sachin Kuttikar, a truck driver by profession and a resident of Usgao, was riding a scooter. As he reached the Bethora junction, two unidentified assailants on a two-wheeler came from behind and shot at him, before fleeing from the site.
The bullet struck the right side of Kurtikar’s stomach and landed in front of the scooter.
Locals alerted the police, and Kurtikar was shifted to the Ponda Sub District Hospital in a police vehicle. He was later referred to the GMC hospital in Bambolim.
A Ponda police team led by DySP Arshi Adil and Police Inspector Tushar Lotlikar began conducting investigations at the site, while South Goa SP Sunita Sawant also visited the place to take stock of the incident.
Police realised that the CCTV camera installed by the Bethora Panchayat was switched off at the site where the incident took place.
In his statement to the police, Kurtikar suspected that the two assailants opened fire with a gun because of a relationship with a woman.
Forensic and ballistic experts collected evidence from the crime scene. Police recovered a 7.65 mm bullet and also detained four persons for questioning in the evening.
“A possible relationship angle emerges, with a past history of heated arguments leading to assault three months ago,” said SP Sunita Sawant.
