BICHOLIM: High drama and panic gripped Madhalawada in Shirgao village on Friday night after a bullet was allegedly fired at the residence of Shiv Sena (Shinde Group) Goa chief Upendra Gaonkar. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a family dispute, saw an armed assailant shoot through the main door of the house, narrowly missing the political leader and terrorising his family before fleeing the scene. The Bicholim Police swiftly responded to the armed assault, arresting Gaonkar’s two nephews, Prajyot alias Shirish Gaonkar and Girish Gaonkar, in connection with the crime.
According to police sources, Prajyot alias Shirish Gaonkar allegedly opened fire during the altercation. The bullet pierced the main door of the house and lodged in a sofa inside the living room. The accused also broke Gaonkar’s main door.
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Later, Upendra, accompanied by his supporters visited the Bicholim Police Station and filed a complaint alleging an attempt on his life and a murderous assault by Prajyot Gaonkar and another individual.
Based on the complaint, the Bicholim Police arrested Prajyot (42) and his brother Girish (43). A forensic team also visited the spot to conduct a detailed examination and collect evidence. The police also conducted a detailed scene of offence panchanama.
In his complaint, Upendra stated that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy against him and his family. The accused first contacted the complainant over the phone, abused him using filthy language and criminally intimidated him by threatening to kill him. When the complainant arrived near his residence, Shirish was waiting in the verandah, armed with a firearm and ammunition. He deliberately aimed the gun directly at the complainant and fired the round, but the complainant luckily managed to escape and run away from the spot.
After entering the complainant’s house, Shirish, who was armed, shot again inside the vicinity of the house thereby endangering human life. Further the accused aimed the firearm at the complainant’s wife and threatened to kill her; the complainant’s wife managed to escape and fled the house through the back door.
Subsequently, both the accused also criminally trespassed into the nearby residence of the complainant’s cousin, Nagesh Gaonkar, while carrying the firearm in search of him causing extreme fear and alarm to the occupants before fleeing the locality.
The Bicholim police have registered the case under Sections 109, 115(2), 296, 329(3), 331(4), 333, 324(4) and 351(3) read with 61(2) BNS 2023 and under Sections 7 and 25 of Arms Act. Lady PSI Archana Sharma is conducting investigations.
