PANAJI: Pernem Police have arrested five individuals following a gunfire attack at Ugvem, Pernem, connected to illegal sand mining from the Terekhol river. Two labourers were injured in the Monday night incident.
The arrested include Nehal Mahale (20), Ashish Mahale (24), Akash Mahale (24), Rishikesh Mahale (32), and Gangaram Mahale (34), all residents of Ugvem-Pernem. According to sources, Rishikesh and Gangaram Mahale are personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), and investigations are ongoing into their potential links with known criminal gangs.
This follows earlier arrests by Pernem Police, including canoe owners Robert Fernandes and Ashok Mulgaonkar, along with five labourers, in connection with illegal sand mining in the area.
Political leaders have expressed alarm over the involvement of police personnel in criminal activities. Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai said, “Law and order has collapsed when policemen turn gunmen…Goa needs governance, not gundagiri.” Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao added that the BJP government’s failure to control the police has turned stations into “Gunda Gangs,” making it difficult to distinguish between genuine officers and criminals.
