PERNEM
In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old boy was seriously injured after he was attacked with acid on the highway at Dhargal while he was proceeding to college on Monday morning.
Later in the day, a 46-year-old man from Dodamarg in Sindhudurg-Maharashtra was arrested at the IDC Karaswada, Mapusa, in this connection.
THE INCIDENT
Police said the incident occurred at about 7.45 am shortly after Umesh Shetye, a policeman by profession, had dropped his son, Rishab, on his scooter to the bus stop at Dhargal to take a bus to proceed to his college.
A scooter rider reportedly wearing a black raincoat, gloves and carrying a white bucket containing the acid stopped in front of Rishab and threw the acid on the victim, inflicting severe burn injuries. The accused then fled from the site.
According to eyewitnesses, the teenager, in a state of panic and pain, ran along the road shouting for help.
Incidentally, Rishab’s house is not far from the site of the incident and word soon reached Umesh that his son had been involved in some accident. Umesh rushed to the site and later took Rishab in his car to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
The site of the attack bore the stains of the acid, while the partially burnt backpack and shirt, as well as the umbrella and water bottle of the victim were lying at the site by the roadside.
The brazen acid attack on the youth shocked people across the State as news of the incident spread quickly on social media.
THE INJURIES
Police said the victim had sustained severe burn injuries on his body and later shifted to the Goa Medical College hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil said the boy suffered deep injuries on the right side of his body in the acid attack.
“His right eye, cheek and nose have developed injuries. A multi-disciplinary team has been deployed for his care. His condition has been critical,” said Dr Patil.
On receiving information, Pernem MLA Praveen Arlekar went to the hospital and met the family of the injured youth.
THE INVESTIGATIONS
North Goa SP Rahul Gupta IPS informed that upon receipt of the information, teams were formed consisting of PI Sachin Lokre, PSI Vivek Halarnkar, PSI Pravin Shemepurushkar, PSI Prathmesh Parsekar, PSI Tukaram Chodankar, PSI Sahil Naik, and staff of police stations at Pernem, Mopa and Mandrem.
All the staff were given their specific task to trace the accused in the incident.
SP Gupta along with Pernem Police Inspector Sachin Lokre, and Mopa Police Inspector Mopa PI Narayan Chimulkar visited the site to take stock of the incident.
Following a complaint by the victim’s father, Umesh Shetye, an FIR was registered at Pernem Police Station under Sections 124(1), 109 BNS and Sec 8(2) of Goa Children’s Act.
Police then pressed into service a forensic team and a police dog squad at the scene of offence. Necessary articles and the acid which was used to attack the victim were attached by police under the panchanama.
Accused suspected victim’s
link to his daughter’s death
PERNEM: After hectic efforts and based on the electronic surveillance and credible inputs received from sources, the accused, Nilesh Dessai (46) of Dabiwadi-Kalane in Dodamarg, Sindhudurg-Maharashtra was traced and apprehended at IDC Karaswada, Mapusa.
SP Gupta said the accused confessed to the crime and disclosed that he had committed the act as his daughter had died one month back and the Sindhudurg Police are investigating the case of unnatural death.
The SP added that the accused had suspected the minor boy to have been linked to the death of her daughter as they were in a relationship.
The chemical used in the incident was suspected to have been taken from the company accused is working in IDC Karaswada. Police also seized the two-wheeler used in the crime.
According to sources, Rishab and the daughter of Nilesh Dessai had been friends for about two years and were studying in the same college. The girl had been living in her uncle's house in Pernem taluka.
In May, the girl suffered from an ailment and passed away. Her death was being investigated by the Sindhudurg Police.
Nilesh had suspected Rishab was linked to his daughter’s death and had allegedly plotted revenge.
Some people had reportedly noticed Nilesh Desai on a two-wheeler at Suke Kulan in Dhargal, since 7 am with a white bucket in his hand and wearing a black raincoat, but had not taken much interest in the matter, until the acid attack took place.
Further investigation is in progress by Pernem PSI Sahil Naik under the supervision of PI Sachin Lokre and overall supervision of SDPO Pernem Salim Shaikh and North Goa SP Rahul Gupta.
