Michael, 2 held for Porvorim armed robbery

PANAJI: Hours after they allegedly robbed a house in Porvorim at gun point, Michael Fernades, Anil Yadav and Vijay Swami were arrested by the police on Saturday. While Yadav and Fernandes, a notorious criminal who has twice escaped from police custody, were picked up from Ameyvada, Khandola in Ponda taluka, Swami was arrested from Assagao in Bardez taluka.
DIG Ravindra Yadav told reporters that Fernandes is an "inter-state criminal" involved in over 50 crime cases in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
"Our preliminary investigations have found that Fernandes' modus operandi is to strike in Goa and move out of the state. He operates in Kolhapur, Karwar, Sindhudurg and Belgaum," said Yadav.
Following the attack on the Bhise home in Porvorim on Friday evening, police teams, coordinated by Porvorim PI Manoj Mardolkar, were sent to different parts of Goa.
Three armed men had decamped with cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.96 lakh after locking up three family members in the bathroom.
"We got to know from our sources that Fernandes was residing at Ameywada. A team raided the house early morning and arrested Fernandes and his associate Yadav even as they tried to escape sensing police presence," described Yadav.
He said Fernandes was found with a pistol loaded with seven rounds during the raid, while police also recovered two country-made pistols, one chopper, one laptop, Rs 25,000 and gold ornaments. Fernandes had procured the pistols from Indore, Yadav said.
Describing the robbery, Yadav said Fernandes and the other two men entered Shekhar Bhise's house near Kids Camp School, and at gun point forced Shekhar's wife Varsha and mother to part with their gold jewellery and cash. The trio also threatened to kidnap the son if the money was not given to them, said Yadav.
"They ransacked the house and threatening the family with a gun and chopper tied the mother, wife and son with a sari and confined them to the bathroom. They were rescued only after Shekhar returned home," said Yadav who visited the crime scene on Friday night.
Describing Fernandes' criminal background, Yadav said he started as an auto thief, graduated to a chain snatcher and is now a dacoit. "We suspect his involvement in 2-3 robbery cases in December 2011," said the DIG. Police have registered the Bhise case under IPC Sections 392 (robbery), 342 (confinement), and 506 (criminal intimidation) read with 34 (several persons), and Section 27 of the Arms Act.