Lack of CCTV in Borda slows probe into jeweller assault

The scuffle between victim Sohan Raikar and the assailant.

Three days after the lone assailant launched a murderous assault on young city-jeweller Sohan Raikar inside his shop located on the busy Borda road before making good his escape, the police seemed on a job with a different mission --- going door to door to check and verify footages of Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras installed in private business establishments and houses in and around Borda.

Reason: The Borda locality, where the daring assault had taken place in broad daylight, is not under CCTV surveillance system like in the rest of the commercial capital, once again exposing the inordinate delay and failure of the authorities to bring the city under surveillance cameras. A few CCTV cameras are being installed at Borda, but the camera installation is underway around the Bolshe circle area.

In fact, the State’s commercial capital – the hub of trade and commerce, is presently not covered under CCTV surveillance cameras. The ambitious CCTV camera project initiated in the city by former South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha exactly a decade ago, is down in the dumps for want of upkeep and maintenance.

This has left the police with no option than to literally hop from one business establishment to another around the crime spot, hoping to find that one critical clue — evidence that could not only help crack the case but also uncover the motive, be it robbery or personal enmity.

The Goan understands that a police team has so far visited around 30-odd business establishments and residential houses to verify the CCTV footages in a bid to track the movements of the assailant.

So far, however, the police could not lay their hands on the crucial clue about the movement of the assailant, his mode of travel and the place from where he had come to execute the crime.

Police sources informed that they are on the job to verify whether he had come with a two-wheeler or a car and the place where he had parked the vehicle before heading towards the jewellery shop to carry out the mission.

“We are presently on the job to establish the identity of the lone assailant, how he had come to the shop, the place where he had parked the vehicle. For, our investigations shows that the accused came on foot to the shop, indicating that he had parked his vehicle faraway in the locality”, police sources said.

Accused carried knife, extra shirt
to mislead cops after assault

MARGAO:

The lone assailant was captured on CCTV assaulting Sohan Raikar with a hammer, which he pulled from his bag.

Police investigations have revealed that the accused was also carrying a knife, a shirt, and brand-new footwear. He wore a mask to conceal his identity.

The presence of the knife has led investigators to question whether he intended to use it if necessary. The extra shirt suggests he planned to change clothes after the attack to mislead the police.