Pernem gunfire case: Two cops among five arrested

Panaji: Goa police on Sunday arrested five persons including two police personnel in connection with an alleged gunfire case in Pernem linked to sand extraction, where two persons were injured.

Police said that the accused used a country-made weapon.

“Among the arrested individuals, two are personnel from the IRBn police. The arrested accused have been identified as Nehal Mahale (20), Ashish Mahale (24), and Akash Mahale (24), all residents of Uguem, Pernem. The IRBn personnel arrested are Rishikesh Mahale (32), resident of Temwade, Pernem, and Gangaram Mahale (34), resident of Uguem,” said SP (North Goa) Rahul Gupta.

He added that the vehicle and weapon used in the crime will be recovered.

“The incident appears to have arisen from disputes related to illegal sand extraction in the area, as locals fear that their paddy fields and agricultural area would be destroyed due to illegal sand extraction. Further investigation is ongoing,” said Gupta.

The SP also said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against all police personnel involved in the case.

He said that a cumulative report would be prepared with regards to non-compliance on the complaint of Uguem villagers to act against illegal sand extraction. “Police will take action against any persons, whether police personnel or others, for not acting against illegal sand extraction,” said Gupta.

Last week, two men were injured in an alleged gun firing incident in Pernem taluka, which police attributed to an ongoing conflict between some Naibag and Uguem residents over sand extraction in the River Terekhol.

Police said that while some people from Naibag are involved in illegal sand extraction, some villagers of Uguem are opposed to it due to damage to their agricultural land.

Gupta said that an unknown person, with the intention to kill, fired gunshots at the complainant, Ramrishi Paswan, 54, and his colleague, Lalbabu Goud, 37, both of whom, along with others, went to extract sand from the Terekhol at Uguem, where the incident occurred.

A senior police officer said that sand extraction is illegal and that Uguem residents have written several petitions to various authorities, but the activity continues. The officer said that there was a small fight between the sand extractors, mostly labourers, and some Uguem villagers over the extraction.