22-year-old gangraped at Cortalim, two arrested

Panaji: A 22-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by two youths below the Zuari bridge at Cortalim when she was under the influence of alcohol on March 17. Agasaim police have arrested both the accused.

Agasaim PI Anant Gaonkar said that they have arrested 25-year-old Macwin Piedade Andrade, resident of Nuvem, and 21-year-old Rowan Jose Abranches, resident of Verna, in the case.

Police said the survivor who had gone to Siridao beach to collect shells was befriended by two youths who were on the beach.

After spending some time with both the accused on the beach and consuming some liqour, the survivor, who was not in the state to ride her two-wheeler, turned pillion on one of the accused’s two-wheeler. The other accused rode the survivor’s two-wheeler and they left the beach together.

Police said that when they reached Cortalim, all three of them went to a liquor shop and purchased some liquor, it was recorded by the CCTV.
After collecting the liquor bottles, all three went below the Zuari bridge, where the accused raped the survivor.

The next day, the survivor approached Agasaim police and lodged her complaint that she was under the influence of alcohol when she was gangraped by two persons.

Agasaim police immediately registered the first information report (FIR), and based on technical surveillance, identified the accused, and later both the accused were arrested.

Gaonkar said both the accused have been remanded in five-day police custody.