PANAJI: Three days after the Porvorim shootout, in which casino director Shrinivas Nayak and his security guard narrowly escaped an armed attack, the Goa government has handed over the case to Crime Branch.
While the assailants have remained at large, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the Assembly today that Crime Branch would now conduct the investigation and expressed confidence that the accused would be arrested.
“Porvorim shootout case has been handed over to the Crime Branch for further investigation. We are confident of nabbing the accused. Investigation is underway,” he said on the floor of the House.
The CM was responding to Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai, who moved an adjournment motion over the alleged deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state and demanded that the case be transferred to the Crime Branch for a thorough probe.
Sardesai pointed out that the attack on Majestic Pride Director Nayak took place barely 500 metres from the State Assembly and the Porvorim police station, raising concerns over the security situation and accountability of the police.
Police have so far ruled out an extortion motive and are examining whether the attack was carried out by contract killers. Police are also probing whether the alleged shooters were brought to Goa from outside the state with one team already in Mumbai. A few suspects have also been questioned.
Sawant has directed the police to establish the motive behind the attempted killing and arrest the accused soon.
Earlier today, speaking outside the Assembly complex, AAP Velim MLA Cruz Silva also highlighted the failure of law and order in Goa.
