'Act against Calangute guest house owner'

PANAJI: The police have written to the district magistrate to initiate action against an individual in Calangute for renting out his premises to Michael Fernandes and his gang on a daily rental basis for almost a fortnight.
Michael Fernandes is the prime accused in about 30 cases of dacoity, robbery, vehicle thefts, impersonation and chain snatching in Goa and neighbouring states.He had formed a gang of robbers with the help of Raju Devar.
In a letter to the district magistrate, the police stated that Sanford D'Souza, who is the owner of the flat in Naikawaddo - Calangute, had rented out his premises to Fernandes and his gang. Although D'Souza collected rent on a daily basis from July 25 to August 13, he had failed to obtain the occupants' photo identity, thereby violating the notification issued by the district magistrate under Section 144 of the CrPC, informed sources.
Police have already initiated action against the owner of the guest house at Marna, Siolim where the gang was hiding after they moved out from Calangute. The accused would sleep in the guest house in the morning and indulge in unlawful activities at night.
It may be recalled that last week, a guest house was raidedin Siolim and two persons were found in the room, while Yan John, 39, from Nagaland and Michael Fernandes, 25 tried to escape. John was intercepted and Fernandes was later caught. Calangute police have recovered a pistol with bullets in his possession. John, who broke his ribs while trying to flee, is being treated at GMC.tnn