The driver of a private vehicle carrying schoolchildren was arrested on charges of endangering schoolchildren and for assaulting a bus driver and conductor in connection with a road rage incident at Kulan-Karapur in Sanquelim.
According to Bicholim police, a complaint was lodged by Savio Pires (38), a bus driver from Dhatwaddo-Tivim, stating that the incident had taken place on Thursday at about 8.15 am on the Valpoi“Assonora road.
Pires alleged that the accused, Tajuddin Khan (55) of Zariwada in Podocem-Sattari was driving a Tata Winger carrying minor school children in a rash and negligent manner, thereby endangering their lives and creating fear among them.
Police said that upon reaching Kulan, the accused allegedly wrongfully restrained the passenger bus, which was being driven by Pires on its regular route from Sanquelim to Bicholim, by suddenly placing his vehicle across the road.
The accused then reportedly alighted from the vehicle armed with a metal rod, obstructing the movement of the bus and preventing the minor students from reaching school on time.
The complaint further stated that Khan allegedly abused Pires and assaulted him with a metal rod, causing injuries to the left side of his neck and near his right eye. The bus conductor was also allegedly assaulted on the head.
The accused was further accused of criminally threatening both the complainant and the conductor with dire consequences, including threats to kill them using the metal rod.
Acting on the complaint, the accused was immediately brought to the police station and placed under arrest. The Tata Winger vehicle involved in the incident has been seized under panchanama, and the metal rod used in the alleged assault has been recovered at the instance of the accused.
Bicholim Police have registered a case under Sections 281, 126(2), 118(2), 352, 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act, 2003.
Further investigation is being carried out by Bicholim PSI Krishna Gawas under the supervision of PI Vijay V Rane Sardesai, and guidance of Bicholim SDPO Shridevi B.V., IPS, and Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Harishchandra Madkaikar.
