PANAJI
Four persons including a woman have been arrested in connection with a brutal fight at Azad Maidan, which resulted in a taxi driver sustaining grievous stab injuries. Roshni Khawas of Betim, Yakub Walikar, Imran Kalburgi and Imam Kalburgi, all residents of Chimbel have been arrested for offenses under sections 504 (intentional insult), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) read with section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Their arrest comes a day after a fight broke out between 11 taxi drivers and their accomplices, who had met at Azad Maidan on Friday morning to resolve a dispute over the use of taxi stands for casino customers. Two cabbies from rival groups were injured in the attack while Sohail Khawas was attacked with a chopper.
As reported by The Goan on Saturday quoting police sources, Khawas was in possession of the dangerous weapon, but dropped it during the altercation. It was then picked up by his rival and was used to attack him. Khawas sustained stab injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
The Panaji police registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) based on the complaint and counter-complaint.
Roshni claimed that the accused Yakub alias Pishani, Irfan, Imran and two others initially assaulted her and when her brother Sohail tried protecting her from the attack, the assailants thrashed him. The counter-complaint alleged the woman triggered the fight by hitting them with her footwear and abusing them during the conversation.
