Photo Credits: * Finger print experts on the job. * Local residents at the spot of the crime. Photos by Santosh Mirajkar
Peace was shattered in the sleepy Shantinagar area, on the outskirts of Margao, when a 36-year-old mechanic shot dead a mason from point blank in a local bar on Tuesday noon.
Margao police have launched a manhunt to nab accused Fayaz Khatib after he made good his escape on a purple colour Jupiter scooter under the pretext of surrendering to the police. Both the deceased and the victim are hailing from the Manopa/Shantinagar area, but are believed to be natives of neighbouring Karnataka.
Margao police station in-charge, PI CL Patil informed that deceased Abdul Kadar Walikar (Shantinagar) was alone sitting at a local bar and restaurant having drinks when he was joined by the accused. Police suspect that the accused was already under the influence of alcohol before he ordered for more drinks.
"Preliminary inquiry has revealed that there was no verbal duel or any fight between the two as per the information dished out by the bar owner. The accused came and sat right opposite the deceased and ordered a drink. The accused is believed to have repeatedly stated that he would shoot him before he fired a shot which pierced through the left ear, leaving Kadar dead where he was sitting on the chair," PI Patil added.
The bar owner and others tried to chase the accused, but he told them that he was heading to the Margao police station to surrender before fleeing away on a 'Jupiter' scooter bearing registration No GA 08 AK 0049.
Replying to a question, PI Patil said preliminary inquiry has revealed that the accused has used a country made gun to commit the offence. "An empty cartridge bearing 7.65 number was found at the site," the police added.
The police have rounded up close relatives of the accused for further interrogations as he is gone into hiding. Sources said the accused was found in possession of the arm on Monday, with DySP Raju Raut Desai saying that the police will be able to ascertain the source of the weapon only after the arrest of the accused. "We are interrogating the close relatives of the accused to find out more about the arm," DySP Raju Raut told The Goan.
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MURDER MOST FOUL
According to Margao police:
* Abdul Kadar Walikar sitting alone at a local bar and restaurant having drinks
* He was joined by the accused who was already under the influence of alcohol
* There was no verbal duel or any fight between the two as informed by the bar owner
* The accused is believed to have repeatedly stated that he would shoot Kadar
* The accused fired a shot which pierced through the left ear, leaving Kadar dead
