TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Eight years after the incident, the fate of five boys will be decided on June 23 when Goa Children’s Court will pronounce its verdict into the sensational murder of teen DJ Mandar Surlakar.
Goa police had arrested his five friends – Rohan Dhungat, Nafiyaz Sheikh, Shankar Tiwari, Jovito Ryan Pinto and Al Saleha Beig for allegedly plotting to kidnap Surlakar for Rs 50 lakh ransom on August 14, 2006. He was killed after the victim’s father refused to heed to their demand.
Beig subsequently turned State approver. In his confession to the children’s court during the trial, he said that they had practiced how to tie Surlakar to a sofa before executing their murder plan. He has also alleged that Ryan killed the teenager with a baseball bat fearing they would be exposed, while Dhungat had chosen Ryan to undertake the task.
As per the records with the court, the accused resorted to this crime to strengthen their financial position as they were in debt. Hours before killing him, Mandar was injected with vodka, twice and beaten up. The accused were arrested on August 16 though Rohan attempted to mislead the police.
An order was in fact reserved for Monday afternoon (June 16) but the matter was adjourned. Three accused, who are currently serving imprisonment in Sada sub-jail were brought to the court, by a team of police escort.
