PERNEM
Pernem police have nabbed the fifth member of the Pardi gang in connection with an attack on a taxi driver at Malpe-Pernem.
In his complaint, a taxi owner-cum-driver Sanjivan Vengurlekar (65) of Porbawaddo-Calangute stated that six persons had hired his taxi from Calangute to Patradevi-Pernem at about 9 pm on July 9, 2025.
As the taxi reached the Malpe stretch of the NH66 highway, the accused caught hold of Vengurlekar and attacked him, while attempting to steal his taxi.
Acting on a police complaint, Pernem police began investigations and identified five accused persons and one juvenile. Details of the accused persons along with the photographs were shared to the Maharashtra Police.
Investigation also revealed the involvement of the accused in a number of theft cases registered in Maharashtra and that, the accused belong to the Pardi gang.
On July 11, 2025, a 17-year-old juvenile involved in the crime was apprehended and lodged at Apna Ghar Merces.
On July 22, three accused, Shankar Pawar @ Hadya (24), Raju Pawar @ Gudya (23), both from Mohal-Solapur, Maharashtra, and Ajay Bhosale (27) of Dharashiv-Maharashtra were arrested from Maharashtra.
The search was on to trace the absconding accused. Meanwhile, a chargesheet was filed against the accused persons before the Sessions Court.
On January 8 at about 11.30 pm, the fifth accused, Devgan @Vijay Pawar (23) of Sangli-Maharashtra were arrested from Maharashtra and were later remanded to five days in police custody.
PSI Vivek Halarnkar is conducting further investigation under the supervision of Pernem PI Nitin V. Halarnkar, Pernem SDPO Salim Shaikh and overall supervision of North Goa SP Harishchandra Madkaikar.
