PANAJI
After a backlash for downplaying the brutal attack on Delhi tourists, Anjuna police swung into action in a similar incident that occurred late Tuesday night when a Maharashtrian visitor was thrashed by two locals near a petrol pump in the coastal village.
Not only the Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh and Sub District Police Officer (Anjuna) Jivba Dalvi spoke to the injured youth, Omkar Upwane; the police were quick to zero in on the assailants and arrest them for attempt to culpable homicide within two hours of the crime.
“We received a distress call from the Police Control Room about a fight near Anjuna petrol pump. Accordingly a team led by PI Prashal Dessai rushed to the site and found that one tourist was injured and his car damaged. We immediately shifted him to the District Hospital Mapusa,” Dalvi said. The motive for the assault was that the victim overtook the accused men’s two-wheeler, and no deadly weapons were reportedly used although the assault was brutal.
The Anjuna police registered an FIR under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint) and other non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint filed by the victim’s friend.
The SDPO informed that on examining the CCTV footage of the crime scene and based on local inputs, they identified the rider and pillion as Viraj Parsekar, aged 25 years and Siddhant Khorjuvekar, aged 29 years, both from Camurlim. “The accused persons came on a blue-coloured Pulsar motor cycle bearing registration number GA-03-AK-5856 and wrongfully restrained Upwane. Thereafter both assaulted him with stones and cement bricks, which caused him serious head injuries,” Dalvi said. The accused were subsequently arrested for the offence.
The Anjuna police faced criticism for delaying strict action against some local goons including a resort’s waiter in an assault case. Three of a Delhi-based family were attacked with dangerous sharp and blunt weapons at Anjuna resort on March 5. With police registering a bailable offence sans arrest, the victims took to social media to narrate their ordeal.
A week later, the police invoked section 307 (attempted murder) of IPC and arrested the accused. The investigating officer, PSI Francisco Xavier has also been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty.
The resort management on Wednesday released a media statement alleging that the Delhi group violated the ‘no smoking policy’ by the poolside and despite multiple reminders to stop smoking hookah, they got verbally abusive using derogatory expletives with the hotel staff.
Goa Police go beyond call of duty, interact with victim
PANAJI: In a rare gesture, Goa Police went beyond their call of duty and personally interacted with the victim, Omkar Upwane assuring tough action against the culprits. Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh, who is currently in Delhi, made a video call on the victim’s mobile phone while SDPO Jivba Dalvi visited him in the hospital at midnight to inquire about his well-being.
Earlier, North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan video-called the victims of assault at Anjuna resort. Three of the Delhi-based family were assaulted in an ugly fight on March 5.
