Mapusa police to book accused for stealing chemical
PERNEM
Nilesh Dessai (46) from Dodamarg in Sindhudurg-Maharashtra, who was arrested for throwing acid on a minor boy on the highway at Dhargal on Monday morning, had stolen a 5-litre acid can from his workplace on Friday.
This was revealed during police interrogation, as the accused reportedly told police that he committed the crime after his daughter died last month following the end of her friendship with the victim.
Dessai said he had stolen the 5-litre acid can on Friday and hidden it in a scooter covered with a raincoat. The acid was stolen from a company in the Industrial Estate at Karaswada-Mapusa, where he had been working as a gardener for the past eight days. A case will be registered against him at Mapusa police station for stealing the acid.
A medical examination of the accused was carried out at GMC Hospital on Tuesday to check for traces of acid on his body. A forensic team also examined the scooter for acid traces. Police have seized the vehicle, the helmet, and the raincoats of the accused.
Meanwhile, the accused was produced before the JMGC court in Pernem and was remanded in police custody for two days. Police have also been directed to produce him before the Children’s Court in Panaji on July 3 for further remand.
Dessai has been booked by Pernem police under Section 124(1), 109 of the BNS, and Section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act.
The 17-year-old victim, who is admitted at GMC Hospital, is recovering from his injuries.
Speaking to the media, the victim’s distraught father said the accused’s daughter had befriended his son while they were studying at the same higher secondary school in Bardez. “The girl would send my son messages but my son did not want to pursue the friendship, even though she had even threatened drastic action,” said the boy’s father.
“One day, the girl’s aunt, who works at a police station in Tiswadi, informed us that the girl had been admitted to GMC Hospital. We even went to meet her in hospital but she was not in a condition to speak.”
“At the time, the girl’s father had assured us not to be afraid as it was not our fault. However, the girl died eight days later, and they filed a case at a police station in Sindhudurg. That complaint was forwarded to Mopa police station.”
The victim’s father said all messages sent by the girl had been forwarded to the police.
“We have submitted all evidence to the police. The girl had died of jaundice, and a hospital report has also been submitted to the police. Hence, we have nothing to do with her death. The girl’s father hatched a plot to take revenge and target my son. We believe that someone else was also involved in this crime.”
