VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Barely a few hours before Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon was fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of October 31, highly-placed police sources said he had taken shelter in Anjuna police station fearing attacks on him by a Chapora criminal gang.
Sources have confirmed that Simeon was beaten up few metres away from the police station on October 30th afternoon. What triggered this scuffle was a minor accident involving the Nigerian himself and the Chapora men.
“The accident caused no injuries to anyone nor had any impact on the vehicles. But the local gang began arguing with Simeon. The verbal spat among them turned ugly when Simeon beat one of their members ‘Bhaiyya’. The gang quickly retaliated and attacked him,” a police official revealed requesting anonymity.
The 37-year-old managed to escape and rushed to the police station to lodge a complaint. In the next few minutes, the assailants also turned up to file a counter complaint. Police sources said the matter was resolved with both the parties agreeing not to interfere with each other.
“The Anjuna police compromised the matter after which the locals left but Simeon preferred staying at the police station fearing he would be attacked again,” added the source.
Police eyewitnesses disclosed that Simeon refused to step out despite his fellow nationals assuring full protection. It was only at about 2 am on October 31 that the victim escorted by two of his friends, one of them Obinna Paul Obi exited the police station to reportedly return home. They left on two rented bikes.
Police said this was the last time Simeon was seen alive. “At Deulwada (Vagator) near a garage, Simeon was attacked allegedly by the same Chapora gang members. He was beaten with wooden sticks and swords (probably big knives). His friends
had fled,” narrated another official.
The gang including Bhaiyya and Omkar Palyekar, who are among 15-odd persons suspected in the killing, returned in Innova car to ascertain whether the foreigner was alive. Seeing him dead in pool of blood, police believe, they might have picked the body in the car and dumped it at Parra where it was discovered by villagers at about 6:30 am.
Goa police have already made a breakthrough in the case with the arrests of two persons ~ Surendra Pol alias Suren Paul and Pravin Mandrekar alias Paagal even though the rest are absconding. Separate police teams are camping at different locations in the neighbouring States where the absconders are supposedly hiding.
Meanwhile, the anti-narcotics cell is inquiring into the role of one of their constables who is allegedly linked with the suspected killers and leaked to them every step taken by the police in the murder case and earlier in drug-related cases.
Simeon, it is now revealed was a police informant as he tipped off the police on drug trafficking. A recent drug seizure was through his information. Another local informant was also allegedly attacked by the suspected killers. He has luckily survived.
