NT Reporter
Vasco/Panaji
In yet another dacoity, a gang of at least seven armed and masked robbers assaulted a family in their sixth-floor flat at Chamundi Arcade in Baina, Mormugao taluka, and decamped with Rs 1 lakh in cash, gold ornaments and silver utensils all worth Rs 45 lakh in the early hours of Tuesday.
Sagar Nayak (60), who sustained severe head injuries, has been admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital
(GMC), Bambolim.
The family of four, including a minor girl and the elderly mother-in-law, was assaulted with iron and aluminium rods and kicked during the dacoity. They were tied also. The attackers stopped only when Harsha Nayak, Sagar’s wife, pleaded for mercy.
This is the third daring dacoity in the state in the recent months. Earlier, dacoits had struck at Dona Paula and Mapusa targeting two bungalows of prominent citizens.
The dacoits entered the Baina flat at around 2:30 am and were captured on CCTV leaving the colony at 3:05 am on Tuesday.
Their Hindi accent and the smell of mustard oil led the family to believe they were from North India. All the masked men appeared to be in their mid-20s and were
wearing helmets.
Sagar Nayak, who is the chairman of Chamundi Arcade, was tied up and thrown onto the balcony, from where he shouted for help while bleeding
from head.
A friend, Bholenath Halwai, residing in the same building, heard his cries and alerted the police, who reached the site
around 3:25 am.
Sagar’s neighbour Wasim Shaikh took him to the Sub-District Hospital in Chicalim, where the injured man was given first-aid. Thereafter Sagar was moved to GMC, from where he was taken back to the Sub-District Hospital.
However, Sagar was moved back to GMC, where is undergoing treatment.
His 12-year-old daughter suffered blows to her hand while trying to protect her father from the assailants. After the dacoits fled, she ran to her uncle’s flat for help, waking up
the entire colony.
Neighbours’ doors were also latched from the outside by the accused.
According to the family’s statement to mediapersons, CCTV cameras are installed at the front entry of the colony, but none cover the rear portion. The dacoits appeared familiar with the area; they entered and exited from the rear by jumping over the compound wall. They used the building’s lift and, while escaping, took the route towards Baina beach.
The police suspect that a local person may have assisted the dacoits by providing information.
Deputy inspector-general of police Varsha Sharma, South Goa superintendent of police Tikam Singh Verma, deputy superintendent of police, Mormugao, Gurudas Kadam and other officials visited the site.
The district mobile forensic unit, South Goa, conducted an fingerprint analysis at the scene.
“We will work on it. Give us some time. In the previous two cases also, we have identified the accused,” Sharma said. “In the present case also, we are doing our best and I am taking it as a challenge.”
The Mormugao police have registered a case under sections 331, 109, 351, 126, and 310 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, and Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act.
