PANAJI
In a scene straight out of a movie, a gang, who fled after brutally assaulting a newly recruited constable, found themselves chased by five police vehicles over a distance of about 80 kms.
What started as a minor accident between two cars in Mapusa took a violent turn, with the assailants leaving no opportunity to thrash one of the three constables in the other car. Two of those accused have been arrested, one of whom also faces a murder charge while two others are on the run.
The incident took place during the early hours of Thursday when one group of men verbally abused and physically attacked the occupants of the other vehicle, including three off-duty policemen.
The police have shared only the basic details with the media as North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal stated that the incident occurred around 1:45 am. The police records mention that Pavan Tirke and Jovit Coutinho were traveling in a black Skoda Octavia (registration No. GA-03-H-0569) from Mapusa towards Aldona via Alankar Theater when the car collided with a Maruti Baleno GA-03-Z-7133 driven by Mallesh Joodi, accompanied by Mahesh Dalvi, Tejas Gurav, and Sharad Bhatkande.
Initially, there was a verbal spat and physical altercation between Tirke and Joodi. Tirke then called his accomplices Raj and Elrich Fernandes to the scene. Subsequently, there was a violent clash wherein Joodi was verbally abused, assaulted brutally and threatened by the accused.
SP Kaushal stated that both Coutinho and Fernandes attempted to flee the scene in the same Skoda vehicle but were intercepted and arrested with the assistance of Mapusa and Bicholim PCR Vans at Ucassaim.
Sources on the other hand stated that after the attack on the policeman, the assailants fled the scene only to be pursued by five PCR vans. "PCR vans from Mapusa and Bicholim were called in to chase the Skoda car. The accused covered nearly 80 kilometers before being intercepted around 3:30 am, and were arrested for the offense," the source disclosed.
It has also been revealed that when the accident occurred, the assailants posed as policemen to which the three constables also identified themselves as policemen. Subsequently, the assailants contacted their associates, all of whom resorted to the crime. The constable, beaten by the assailants, was also seen covering his face while others kept hitting and humiliated him.
Coutinho has a history of involvement in a prior murder case and another instance of criminal intimidation, both registered at Mapusa police station whereas Fernandes has a mischief case at the same police station.
Kaushal stated that the accused were subjected to medical examinations including alcohol levels soon after their arrest, with reports awaited. “The investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to track and arrest the other accused involved in this case,” he said.
An FIR is registered under sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 506(ii) (criminal intimidation), 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of IPC.
