PANAJI: A frightening case of armed robbery unfolded in Baina early Tuesday morning, when a gang of 7–8 masked intruders stormed the seventh-floor home of businessman Sagar Nayak in Chamundi Arcade. The men, carrying iron and aluminium rods, are believed to have entered the flat from the rear side of the building at around 2.30 am, catching the family unawares in their sleep.
The attackers allegedly forced open the bedroom door with the rods and assaulted Sagar, his wife Harsha, their young daughter, and Harsha’s elderly, unwell mother. When Sagar initially resisted and refused to hand over the keys, the assailants reportedly beat him mercilessly, causing severe bleeding. The family members were also tied up and threatened with death while the gang searched the house.
Large quantities of gold jewellery and cash had been kept at home following the Diwali celebrations and ahead of an upcoming function at Partagal Math, making the residence a prime target. The robbers escaped with the valuables by about 3.05 am.
Harsha, in her statement to the police, said the attackers appeared to be young and spoke in what she described as a “Bihar-like dialect”. She also noted that the group seemed to know the building’s layout, avoiding CCTV cameras, which suggests they may have had prior information about the premises. All of them had their faces covered with masks and helmets.
Sagar, who suffered multiple injuries, is undergoing treatment in hospital and is reported to be stable. His wife and daughter have also been injured.
South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma visited the crime scene and confirmed the incident. He said police teams are analysing CCTV footage and other clues as part of efforts to identify and apprehend the culprits.
