PANAJI: Pernem Police have arrested canoe owner 48-year-old Robert Fernandes, 46-year-old Ashok Mulgaonkar, and five labourers for illegally extracting sand from the Terekhol river at Ugvem, Pernem. The arrests come after a gunshot incident on Monday night that left two of the labourers injured.
The victims, 54-year-old Ramrishi Paswan and 37-year-old Lalbabu God, sustained injuries to the neck, arm, and stomach and were shifted from the Mapusa District Hospital to GMC for further treatment. Investigations revealed that the attack occurred while the labourers were extracting sand without valid permissions under the Goa, Daman & Diu Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1985.
Following the gunfire, Pernem Police registered FIR Cr. No. 66/2025 under Sections 109, 3 of the Arms Act. A subsequent FIR Cr. No. 67/2025 was filed against Fernandes, Mulgaonkar, and the labourers for illegal sand mining.
The arrested labourers include Sonelal Chaudhary, Munna Bin, Sonu Paswan, Vikas Bin, and Yogendra Chaudhary. Over 35 armed holders were interrogated, and more than 35 weapons were checked with the assistance of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team. Police are continuing investigations to identify and trace the persons responsible for the gunfire.
