15 masked men block car in pre-dawn ambush, open fire and assault duo; third occupant escapes; 2 critical; 8 held after social media outrage; 2 vehicles seized
Police inspect the Baleno car that was damaged in the incident. (Right) The bullet shot mark on the vehicle and a live cartridge.
MARGAO
In a chilling display of gang violence, gunshots were fired and blood was spilled in the early hours of Tuesday as a brutal gang war erupted on the busy Margao-Colva road at Mungul, leaving two individuals critically injured.
The duo is undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim with serious injuries. Sources say the third occupant in the car reportedly made good his escape after the attack.
Around 15 armed assailants, traveling in multiple cars, ambushed the inmates of the Baleno car, returning from Colva, near Sagun Restaurant at Mungul at around 2:45 am. The attackers, some with masked faces, were carrying deadly weapons including a pistol, koita, iron rods, and soda bottles. A live cartridge was recovered from the scene.
The victims, identified as Yuvkesh Singh Badaila, a resident of Margao, and his friend Rafiq, were returning from Colva in a Baleno car when they were intercepted and attacked. Eyewitnesses and police sources say the attackers used their vehicles to block the victims' car before opening fire and launching a physical assault.
Police said rounds were fired at the victims, and other members of the group smashed the car and attacked them with soda bottles and sharp weapons.
South Goa SP Tikam Singh said both Yuvkesh and Rafiq suffered injuries to their hands and other parts of their bodies while attempting to resist the attack.
The shocking incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and demands for swift police action. SP Tikam Singh immediately formed special teams to investigate the case.
In his complaint, Yuvkesh has named five accused: Akshay Talwar and Rahul Talwar of Borda-Fatorda, Wilson Carvalho of Margao, and Shahrukh and Rasool, also residents of Margao. He alleged that these individuals, along with around 15 unidentified masked assailants, formed an unlawful assembly with the intent to kill.
"The accused arrived in an Innova and four other vehicles. Two rounds were fired at close range, hitting the Baleno. It’s clear their intention was to murder,” said SP Singh, confirming that an FIR has been registered under sections relating to attempt to murder and the Arms Act.
As of Tuesday evening, police had detained eight individuals in connection with the incident, including three of the named accused. An Innova and Fronx car used by the accused person in the attack have been attached by the Fatorda police.
Coastal drug link, old rivalry under probe
MARGAO: As the Goa Police has launched investigations into the gang war that erupted on the Margao-Colva road at Mungul in the wee hours of Tuesday, questions are being asked over the motive behind the dastardly and murderous assault on the Baleno car carrying 19-year old Yuvkesh Singh and his friend Rafiq.
As the incident, wherein guns and koitas were freely used in the attack, triggered outrage, citizens were seeking answers to unanswered questions over the exact motive behind the attack – whether it was due to a previous enmity or has anything to do with drugs along Salcete coastal belt.
Sources said the armed assailants had apparently launched the attack to target the leader of the Yuvkesh-Rafiq group to avenge the attack on a member of the gang some time back at Colva. However, their plan went haywire after they could not find the leader of the group travelling in the Baleno car returning from Colva.
Police sources said they are trying to find out whether there’s a hand of a history sheeter from Tiswadi behind the murderous attack on the Baleno car. It is learnt that the history sheeter from Tiswadi was trying to take revenge on the leader of the rival group for an assault that reportedly took place at Colva some time ago.
SP, Tikam Singh told the media that the motive behind the murderous assault will be known only after the arrests of the accused and their interrogations.
Police eye cross-district crime links
MARGAO: The Goa Police is investigating on the possible involvement of criminal elements from Quepem, Tiswadi and Ponda along with their accomplices from Margao and Fatorda and other areas in Salcete in the early Tuesday gang war on the Colva-Margao road.
The police are also investigating into reports whether the assailants had met at Quepem a day ago to plan the attack. The police are also trying to find out whether a notorious criminal from Tiswadi was personally present during the attack on the vehicle.
Police declined to comment on a host of questions, only saying the police teams set up to investigate, are working to resolve the case.
