THE SEARCH ENDS: The alleged accused in the sexual assault of a four-year-old girl being brought to Mapusa police station on Wednesday following his apprehension in Panaji.
MAPUSA
A man who allegedly left no digital footprint, carried no mobile phone and spoke only Kannada proved a difficult suspect to track down, but a combination of CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts and physical evidence helped North Goa police crack the four-year-old girl's sexual assault case in Mapusa within 48 hours.
The accused, identified as Pundalikariyappa Gadge (28), a native of Hayatgalli in Dharwad, was apprehended by a police team in Panaji between 7 am and 7.30 am on Wednesday, nearly two days after the shocking November 8 incident near Ram Manohar Lohia garden.
Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta, while briefing the media on Wednesday, described the case as a complete blind investigation, as police initially had neither the identity of the victim nor any clue about the assailant.
The investigation began after police received information at around 10.15 pm on November 8 that a young girl had been found in a disturbing condition near the park. Police personnel rushed to the spot, but identifying the child and locating her parents became the first challenge.
Eyewitness accounts and inquiries in the surrounding area eventually led police to the girl's father, a daily-wage labourer who reportedly slept on the roadside. He confirmed the child's identity and told police that she had been with him until around 6 pm, after which she went missing.
Police subsequently examined CCTV footage of an altercation reported in the area around 7 pm. The footage helped establish the identities of the girl's father and two to three acquaintances who were present there.
A second, grainy black-and-white CCTV recording from near the crime scene provided police with a visual clue about a man seen in the vicinity. A roadside labourer recognised the person in the footage, helping police establish his identity by the following night.
The breakthrough, however, came with the recovery of a bag from the crime scene. According to Gupta, the bag belonged to the accused, a fact corroborated through CCTV footage and identification by people familiar with him. The accused also allegedly identified the bag as his during questioning, said the SP.
Gadge had reportedly been staying in the Mapusa area for the past six to eight months and was known among the daily-wage labourers working in the market. Police found that he did not carry a mobile phone and had no readily traceable digital footprint.
Investigators also initially had only limited information about his identity, including his native place and language.
With his whereabouts unknown, police teams intensified searches across Mapusa, Panaji, Margao and Vasco, including railway stations and bus stands. The accused had reportedly walked from Mapusa towards Panaji before he was traced and apprehended.
Gupta said the accused had been arrested and that the investigation was continuing. He also said police were yet to establish whether Gadge had any previous criminal record or had been arrested in another case.
Asked about the possible motive, the SP said the act appeared to reflect a twisted mindset, adding that investigators would examine all aspects during the probe.
An FIR has been registered at Mapusa police station under Sections 137(2) and 65(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relevant provisions of the Goa Children's Act and Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act. Sub-Inspector Raveena Sawant Dessai is investigating the case.
Gupta said the police would focus on scientific evidence collection and completing the chargesheet at the earliest to ensure a speedy trial.
