Police probe motive as lone assailant strikes shop but flees empty-handed; raising fears over business security in Margao
The fight between Sohan and the attacker as seen on CCTV.
MARGAO
A day after jeweller Sohan Raikar was attacked at his shop in Borda, many questions remain unanswered for both the police and worried citizens.
Was this a failed robbery under the pretext of selling gold? Or was it simply an unprovoked attack, as the police have currently recorded against unknown persons? What was the real motive behind this incident that has raised concerns about safety for businesses in the city?
More than 24 hours after the attack, the case has left the police puzzled. South Goa District Police Chief SP Tikam Singh said the motive was still unclear.
“We cannot say for sure that it was a planned robbery,” he said. “Our initial findings show that the lone masked attacker came to the shop claiming he wanted to sell gold. The attack happened only after the jeweller refused to take the items.”
The SP added that the attacker could have stolen valuables after the assault but chose to leave empty-handed. “This makes it hard to call it an attempted robbery,” he said.
This uncertainty has led to further questions — could it be linked to personal enmity or business rivalry? Fatorda police confirmed that the victim has said he has no known enemies or disputes in his personal or business life.
“We are looking into all possible angles,” SP Singh said. “We hope to find the motive once we catch the attacker.”
Meanwhile, the Borda Citizens Committee, led by former Margao Municipal Councillor Glen Andrade, has urged the police to catch the attacker quickly to ease the fears of residents.
In a letter to the Fatorda police, Andrade condemned the daylight attack on Sohan Raikar at his jewellery shop on Borda road.
Crime Branch joins hunt for attacker
MARGAO: The Crime Branch is helping the Fatorda police to crack the Borda assault case involving a city jeweller. Meanwhile, the South Goa police have formed three teams to trace the lone attacker.
District Police Chief Tikam Singh has set up three teams with different tasks as the police search for the assailant.
Sources in the police said the Crime Branch is supporting the Fatorda police to solve the case and find out why jeweller Sohan Raikar was attacked.
With many questions still unanswered, the police are facing challenges in tracking down the attacker. “The investigation is ongoing. We have gathered some clues related to the incident, and our teams are working on the ground to make progress,” a senior police official said.
Memories of Swapnil Walke’s murder return after 5 years
MARGAO: The recent attack on a young city jeweller at Borda has brought back bitter memories of the cold-blooded murder of 41-year-old jeweller Swapnil Walke inside his shop near Grace Church, Margao, about five years ago.
Swapnil was killed by three attackers who shot him and then repeatedly stabbed him when he tried to stop a robbery. The incident took place on 2 September 2020, when Swapnil was alone in his shop. One of the attackers entered the shop and shot him. Even though he was hit by the bullet, Swapnil tried to fight back but was stabbed many times, leading to his death. The police later arrested all the accused in the case.
