PANAJI
A violent clash close to midnight on Tuesday in Calangute with the use of choppers and knives among what police said was a group of criminals left four injured.
North Goa Superintendent of Police, Shobit Saxena, IAS, however, debunked reports that it was a “gang war” and claimed it was a fracas between some criminal elements.
The violent incident occurred close to famed tourist night-spot Tito’s in Baga.
“It is not correct to call it a gang war. These are criminal elements who had come there and got into some sort of a fight. We are investigating very objectively and more details will be revealed as the probe progresses. It is not a gang war,” Saxena said while speaking to the media.
Police said, they have arrested Nagoa resident Tarzan Parsekar from Calangute and three others -- Imran Bepari, Suryakant Kambli and Suraj Shetye -- from Pernem when they were making preparations to flee.
Police records show Bepari has a history of involvement in several heinous crimes and is at present out on bail.
Saxena said the police will resort to applying the most stringent provisions of the law including those meant for repeat offenders to deal with all those involved in Tuesday night’s violent clash.
Of late, Calangute, which is a tourist destination patronised by a large number of domestic tourists, has been making news for all the wrong reasons.
At the beginning of last month, a native of Haryana was arrested after he pulled out a country-made gun during a spat. He was accompanied by another colleague, who was also carrying a gun.
Police recovered two firearms from the scene of the offence which took place in full public view in the early evening in Calangute. They arrested a man named Santosh Bhagwan for the
incident.
The incident had a ripple effect with the Opposition criticising the government for failing on the law and order front. The Opposition leader went to the extent of tweeting and urging the Goa Governor to intervene in the matter.
