PANAJI
Goa’s law-and-order machinery has once again come under criticism after two armed men opened fire at the director of a land casino and his security guard at the casino’s entrance, on Friday evening. Casino Majestic director Shrinivas Nayak and his security guard had a narrow escape when the assailants, who were allegedly lying in wait near the parking area, suddenly approached Nayak as he approached his vehicle and opened fire at close range. Six rounds were fired in all -- three by the attackers and three by Nayak’s security personnel in retaliation. The assailants nevertheless managed to flee, crossing the road towards the Panaji-Mapusa highway and disappearing into the darkness. Sources said that the attackers had positioned themselves inside the casino premises near the parking area, giving them a clear view of vehicles entering and leaving the property.
The shooters entered the parking lot between 7.45 pm and 8 pm, and waited nearly an hour. The firing was around 8.45 pm, police said. “The accused were hiding in between two parked cars in the parking area and could see every vehicle entering and exiting. When Nayak’s vehicle stopped and he was about to step in, they ran towards him and opened fire from near-close proximity. His security guard retaliated and fired three rounds, but the accused managed to escape,” the source told The Goan. The assailants are believed to have arrived on a motorcycle and fled after the shooting.
The incident triggered a major police response, with senior officers, including the Inspector General of Police K R Chaurasia, rushing to the scene. Police teams from North Goa and the Crime Branch were deployed to trace the attackers while the forensic teams also rushed to the site. Check-posts, railway stations, bus stands and both airports were put on alert as police began efforts to identify the attackers and determine their escape route. A police team remained at the scene to record statements from Nayak and the security personnel, which police are expected to use to establish the sequence of events and identify the assailants. The brazen firing has also provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition to question the government over the state of law and order, particularly an armed attack unfolding at a busy public location. GPCC President Girish Chodankar questioned the security in Goa citing the incident occurred just few meters away from the Porvorim police station. Police, however, remained tight-lipped when asked whether the incident pointed to deterioration in law and order and whether any arrests had been made.
CCTV footage help police identify both assailants, arrests awaited
PANAJI: A quick examination of CCTV footage helped police identify two assailants as the State remained on high alert, with nakabandis being conducted across Goa. Sources said police teams were checking vehicles on the roads and screening CCTV footage from the casino and nearby locations as part of the investigation. Guests inside the casino were also not allowed to leave while the police carried out their inquiries. The premise was cordoned off for probe. “The CCTV footage is being examined to also check whether any guest inside the casino appeared suspicious or behaved suspiciously. We cannot rule out the possibility that the assailants were getting updates about Nayak's movements from inside the casino,” the source said. Nayak later confirmed the incident even as more details were awaited. "I was about to sit in my car when two assailants fired three rounds at me. My bodyguard fired three rounds in response. The accused fled thereafter, crossing the highway," he said.
