Cops arrest interstate gang members linked to theft, assault cases

Panaji: Goa police on Monday busted an interstate ‘pardi gang’ and arrested three of its members, including a minor, in connection with two alleged theft cases at the Old Goa and Pernem police stations.

Laxmikant Chandrakant Chopdekar from Ribandar reported that three unidentified people broke into his residence and stole a silver karande (decorative container) and two pairs of silver rings (pede), valued at Rs 15,000.

North Goa SP Rahul Gupta said the accused individuals were identified as operating in the Hubballi and Bengaluru areas. Consequently, investigation teams were deployed to both locations. Upon receiving information that the suspects were in the Khanapur area, a chase ensued from Khanapur, Anmod Ghat to Goa, resulting in the apprehension of two accused persons at the Dhulapi check post while travelling in a car.

“They said their names were Prem Baddi, 28, of Karnataka, and Waseem Tajahmad, 32, of Vasco. Both were arrested,” Gupta said. “Another team was in Bengaluru to trace two other accused persons in this case, and they were traced by the Kankavali police in Bengaluru. They will be brought in on a transfer warrant.”

In the second case, Pernem police recorded the statement of businessman Sanjivan Vengurlekar and registered an FIR against six unidentified people for assaulting him with a sharp object on his face/head, left shoulder, and left forearm while attempting to rob a taxi belonging to him. Gupta stated that the Pernem police team apprehended a minor boy, native to Maharashtra, and seized the stolen vehicle. Five of the boy’s associates, however, managed to flee by taking advantage of the darkness.

“During the course of the investigation, the minor boy disclosed the identities of the others. He also said Waseem and Prem Baddi had been residing with the gang at hotels in Calangute and Margao over the past eight days and helped with logistics.

“The details of other accused were shared with the Sawantwadi police and the local crime branch (LCB), Kankavali, and based on the information shared by the Pernem police, the LCB Kankavali apprehended Hadya alias Shankar Pawar, 25, and Gudya alias Raju, 24, both natives of Solapur, Maharashtra, in Bengaluru,” Gupta said. Both will be brought in on a transfer warrant by the Goa police.

“The investigation revealed that both cases were linked and both crimes were committed by the same gang. The gang leader is Waseem Tajahmad, who lives in Vasco and called the other gang members in from Maharashtra and Karnataka,” Gupta said. “The other members who were caught are part of the infamous ‘pardi gang’. This is the first time members of the pardi gang have come into the net of Goa police,” Gupta said.