Anticipatory bail for prime accused in cop assault case

Margao: After being on the run for almost two weeks, prime accused in the violent assault on police personnel at Shivnagar, Xeldem, Joyson Fernandes of Cacora, was granted anticipatory bail by a court. However, he was subsequently called for questioning by police at the Quepem police station. Quepem police said that the investigation in the case was underway.
Police termed Fernandes as the “mastermind” behind the attacks. Multiple police teams were formed to track him and the other suspects down. “We were hot on his trail and would have soon nabbed him when his anticipatory bail application was granted by the court. While the other five of the seven accused were already arrested and later released on bail, one is still at large,” a police officer said.
On May 1, Fernandes and his accomplices first attacked two civilians, Bryan Costa and Felix Fernandes. When ASI Pundalik Gaonkar and constable Rohan Narvekar reached the scene, the group allegedly assaulted police before fleeing in their vehicles. The accused were charged with various offences, including assault on public servants, unlawful assembly and causing hurt.