the goan I network
MARGAO
With as many as 13 criminal cases pending against him back in his native state Madhya Pradesh, the Indore police have informed that the accused is capable of covering a 100 kilometre distance on foot along the railway tracks to avoid the Goa police dragnet.
As the Goa police has fanned out to nab the Betalbatim gang rape accused Ishwar Macwana after he gave the police escort party a slip, the Indore Police told The Goan over the
telephone on Monday evening that accused Ishwar Macwana is a dreaded criminal, who is wanted in around
13 criminal cases, including two murders, including a double murder, attempt to murder, robberies,
rapes, etc.
The Indore police on Monday morning received communication from the Goa police informing them about Ishwar’s escape from police custody on the way to the TB hospital. The Indore police, however, say that the accused may be holed up in Goa for the moment and may try to escape on foot via the railway tracks.
“Accused Ishwar is capable of walking 100 kilometers on foot to avoid the police dragnet. The police in Goa will have to take this factor in their account,” an Indore police officer said, while saying may even try to hide himself in the jungles to avoid being caught.
Incidentally, a Goa police officer, who was part of the investigations into the Betalbatim rape case, said accused Ishwar had hid himself in the jungle off Karmali for 24 hours before he returned to Margao without realising that he would land in a police trap, which finally led to the arrests of all the three accused from Indore.
“Ishwar had taken shelter in the jungles off Karmali station after their plan to leave the State had gone haywire,” a police officer recalled.
Accused Ishwar was nabbed by the Goa Police investigating team in the Betalbatim gang rape at the Margao footbridge near Tandoor restaurant after the police set a trap by using another accused, who was already
in the Goa police custody that time.
Macwana likely to be declared absconder; trial to continue against other accused
MARGAO: Dreaded rape accused Ishwar Macwana has given the police escort party a slip even before cross examination of the Betalbatim rape victim could be cross examined in the heinous crime committed by the three natives of Indore, Madhya Pradesh in May last at the Sunset beach.
Sources close to the prosecution informed that accused Ishwar’s absence may stall the ongoing trial in the gang rape case, but the trial will continue against the remaining two accused after the dreaded accused is declared as an absconder.
Court sources in the know told The Goan that the examination of the gang rape victim was complete only recently and that defence was bracing up to cross examine her before the dreaded accused gave the police escort party a big slip. “The absence of the main accused will not stop the trial in the rape case as the prosecution will bring all material evidence on record against the remaining two accused after declaring the main accused an absconder,” sources said.
Sources said though the trial court had ordered conducting the trial in the heinous crime via video conferencing, the three accused used to be brought to the South Goa Sessions court for the hearing due to a technical snag in the video conferencing facility at the Colvale jail.
FLASHBACK
A Goa police officer, who was part of the investigations into the Betalbatim rape case, said accused Ishwar had hid himself in the jungle off Karmali for 24 hours before he returned to Margao without realising that he would land in a police trap, which finally led to the arrests of all the three accused from Indore
