PANAJI
The Additional Sessions Court has framed charges against four persons of a family, all of whom are accused of murder and destruction of evidence arising out of a petty property dispute.
Pratiksha alias Nilima Gaunder, and her husband Parshuram Gaunder; Lingnath Palkar and Hemant Palkar are accused of killing Murugan alias Ballu Gaunder, in a fight between three families over a property issue. The incident that occurred on June 1 at Chimbel saw the immediate arrest of the accused as they tried to flee from Goa after committing the murder.
The Court acknowledged Old Goa police’s charge sheet backed by a forensic report stating stab injury to the chest of the deceased.
As per the case details, the deceased had rushed to the rescue of his sister after learning that the accused persons were at her house, abusing and threatening her. On reaching the spot, a scuffle broke out between Ballu and all the four accused, during which he was allegedly stabbed by the main accused, Linganath, with a knife in the chest which proved fatal.
The accused also assaulted the 17-year-old son of Subramanyam with slaps and stones, causing him head injuries.
The Old Goa police had formed four teams to trace the accused who later escaped from the scene of crime. One of them was arrested while trying to escape from the border.
