TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: Suspected to be a case of business rivalry, about 30 masked men vandalized a bar and restaurant at Nerul in Bardez on Thursday afternoon.
According to Porvorim Police, about 25-30 men wearing masks reached the site on their motorcycles having no number plates and barged into the LPK Bar and Restaurant at Nerul at about 12.30 pm. The accused armed with lathis and other weapons assaulted the staff on duty and damaged the articles inside the restaurant.
Police said the accused assaulted the security guard at the gate and forcefully took key of the gate from him. The accused later entered the restaurant and damaged computers, refrigerators, CCTV cameras, counter, TV, glass planes of the doors and windows, statue and other valuable items in the restaurant.
Police said the gardener on duty, Laximan Chavan, was also assaulted and his mobile phone snatched. The accused later fled from the scene. The cost of the damage is estimated to be around Rs 7 lakh, informed police.
DySP Nandkishor Raiker, PSIs Vilesh Durbhatker and Videsh Shirodkar and other police personnel rushed to the site and conducted the panchanama.
Porvorim Police have registered the case under Sections 143, 147, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code against unknown persons. Police suspects that the incident could be a business rivalry.
Speaking to Herald, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said after the bar and restaurant owner, Nandan Kurtadker, who is presently in Mumbai, informed him that his bar and restaurant at Nerul was vandalized by some persons, he rushed to the site.
“The masked men damaged a terracota piece of art, besides other valuable items and the actual loss at current market should be about Rs 25 lakh,” said Lobo.
“The incident will send a wrong signal to the tourists and I condemn this act of vandalism, which indicates that the law and order situation in the State is deteriorating. Police should investigate and immediately book the culprits,” demanded Lobo.
