5 vehicles set ablaze in Margao, 1 held

It was only in the evening that the mystery was resolved after the Margao police arrested a resident of Sao Jose de Areal in connection with the fire accidents.

While a Winger and a mini bus were set afire near Munjvihar highway in the jurisdiction of Fatorda police station, the remaining three incidents along the eastern bypass were reported at the Margao police station.

The police and the Margao fire brigade were on their toes on Tuesday noon as they received calls over vehicles being engulfed by fire. The Margao fire brigade was first called to extinguish fire to the Winger vehicle near Munjvihar highway. No sooner, the fire brigade returned to the fire station, it received a call that a mini-bus has caught fire.

By the time, the fire brigade doused the fire of the min-bus, the fire men received information that a Tempo Traveler was engulfed by raging flames. Within minutes a Tata pick-up van was found burning just meters away from the spot where the mini-bus was on fire.

Even as the Margao and Fatorda police were groping in the dark over the cause of the incidents, a bus was set afire in the evening behind the Power House.

Margao police station in-charge, PI Sachin Narvekar said the accused from Sao Jose de Areal Anthony Cardozo was arrested after some persons found him moving with alcohol and match stick. “The accused has been working as a security guard at a bazaar and his background is being ascertained. The police have called his family members as part of the investigations”, he added.

The police believe that the vehicles were set afire by pouring inflammable substance in the cabins before the fire spread to the vehicle.

One of the owners of a vehicle, which was gutted in the fire, told The Goan that he his vehicle was in motorable condition as it was parked alongside the highway after repairs.

Further investigations are on.