the goan I network
MARGAO
Before the three Indore criminals gang-raped the 20-year old girl and assaulted her boyfriend, two other couples “ a male and female and a father-son duo had escaped an attack at the hands of the rape accused.
Investigations have revealed that while the trio had headed towards Betalbatim on foot from Colva, district police chief, SP Arvind Gawas has said the trio had almost targeted a father-son duo while they were playing on the beach. “When they realised that the duo were of Goan origin, they moved away”, SP Gawas said.
At the Sunset beach, the trio saw a couple on the sand dune and had almost prepared to launch an attack on them before they spotted a two-wheeler coming towards the beach. “While the couple, which they had planned to attack left the beach, they found a girl and a boy coming towards the spot after parking their two-wheeler”, he said.
The victim girl and the boy, the police said had no indication that the three-member gang from Indore was lying in wait for them, before they pounced on them by brandishing the koita and a knife.
“The trio was in need to money and the previous couple could have turned out their prey. But, the accused left them because a two-wheeler was approaching towards the beach’, SP Gawas said.
SP Gawas said the accused had come to Colva at least on three previous occasions and was well accustomed to the place.
Cops say 24x7 patrolling not possible
MARGAO: Post-Betalbatim rape incident, the Goa police would petition to the Tourism department to initiate steps to cover the beach belt with illumination and CCTV surveillance cameras, pointing out that police patrol all along the beach belt 24x7 is technically not feasible.
Locals want secluded beach illuminated
MARGAO: In the wake of last week’s gang-rape at the Sunset beach and the previous murder reported at the adjoining Lover’s beach, Betalbatim villagers on Thursday have called for urgent measures along the secluded beach belt, including illumination, erection of warning boards and gates, CCTV surveillance cameras et al to keep criminals at bay and ensure the safety of visitors.
