Team Herald
PANJIM: Assuming Goa is a safe hide out for criminals was the biggest mistake three Delhi youth, who flew to the State hours after opening fire at nakabandi constables in Delhi Cantonment on January 11, could make.
The three accused – Vipin Sunil Dagar (24) and Praveen Surjay Dagar (23), both from Jharoda Kalan in New Delhi, and Ajay Kumar Ahlawat (22) from Jhajjar, Haryana were arrested from a restaurant by Calangute Police after a tip off from their Delhi counterparts. Based on the FIR copy, and photos of the accused, shared with the local police, the team led by PI Jivba Dalvi arrested them late Tuesday night.
“We laid a trap after a clue that one of three accused withdrew cash from an ATM at Umtavaddo, Calangute. The Calangute police team waited for about one and half hours when finally one of them arrived at a wine store to purchase liquor. The team detained him who then took the police to a group of 6-7 persons having dinner at a restaurant. All were detained and taken to police station,” North Goa Superintendent of Police Chandana Chowdhary, who was given the tip off by the Delhi Cantt police sleuths, said on Wednesday.
Dalvi further revealed that on interrogation, the accused volunteered to show the restaurant where the two accused persons were having dinner with other friends from Delhi. “Without waiting for additional staff and wasting time, we approached the dinner table and detained others. As it was suspected that the accused persons might be in possession of firearms or guns, I used my (official) weapon to keep the situation under control. Initially the accused persons made an attempt to flee from the spot but we nabbed them at gunpoint,” he added.
The three accused are arrested under section 41 of CrPC, the other Delhi youth have also been detained till the arrival of Delhi police. “Although the others do not have any case registered against them, we have ensured their custody in case the Delhi police require them for the probe. All of them will be handed over to the Delhi police once they arrive,” she stated.
Asked what prompted them to escape to Goa, SP Chowdhary said, “They thought Goa is a safe haven but this case is a classic example of timely action by police.”
The police have ruled out any action against the house owners where the accused had stayed claiming the accused had submitted legal documents before checking-in.
As per prima facie information, Praveen is involved in crimes at Leh police station in Jammu and Kashmir and was also earlier arrested by Special Task force, Uttarakhand. North SP has announced reward for the Calangute police for the successful mission.
