Anjuna mill operator, family attacked by nine with sticks

Team Herald 

MAPUSA: In a shocking brutal attack at Anjuna on Wednesday, nine persons including a minor allegedly assaulted a mill operator, his family members and workers.

According to Anjuna Police, Manilal Ravji Patel, operator of Saraswati Corporation Timber and Saw Mill at Chivar, Anjuna, his son Bharat Manilal Patel, his brother Dayalal Rauji Patel and two mill employees were allegedly assaulted by nine persons including a minor with bamboo and wooden sticks. The incident has been captured on CCTV cameras installed at the mill.

Manilal, who sustained severe head injuries, is in a critical condition, while his son Bharat underwent a brain operation on Wednesday night at a private hospital. The others also sustained injuries.

The incident occurred at around 15.45 hours when the accused allegedly assaulted the complainant, his brother, son and two workers on the issue of purchasing wooden railings.

Sources at the mill informed that initially three persons visited the mill and enquired the price of wooden railings. When the owner revealed the price of the wood railing, the accused started bargaining to which the owner refused. 

This led to arguments between the accused and the Patel family and workers. The accused threatened them with dire consequences and left the mill. Later, the accused returned to the saw mill with more five persons and attacked the Patel family and their workers with wooden sticks causing them severe injuries.

The injured persons were immediately taken to the hospital and police were informed. Anjuna Police conducted the panchanama and began investigation. By Wednesday night, all the accused were arrested.

The accused have been identified as Antonio D’Souza (54), Allan D’Souza (25) both residents of Assagao, Fabier Honar (24), Suresh Pukar (21) both residents of Candolim, Jovin Rodrigues (30), Shervet D’Souza (24) both residents of Carmona, Azar Shaikh (26) native of Malad, West Mumbai, Imran Khan (23) resident of Naikawado, Calangute and a minor boy.

The accused have been booked under Sections 143, 147, 148, 323, 324, 427, 307 R/W 149 IPC.

The eight accused were produced before the local court which remanded them to seven days police custody while the minor boy was sent to Apna Ghar.

Mill supervisor Suvarna Nanoskar said, “Initially, a group of persons came and enquired about price of the wooden railings with the boss. When the boss told them that the price is Rs 10,000, the group started bargaining for almost half the price to which our boss refused. Our boss went to the office and the group too entered the office and started arguing and attacked Dayalal. Manilal intervened immediately and the group later threatened the Patel brothers and left “.

“After some time, the group returned with more five persons and attacked the Patel family and workers causing them serious injuries. There were two female members in the group,” Nanoskar informed.

Mill owner Vatu Vasu Govekar, who has given the mill to Manilal on rent said, “This group had come with an intention to kill the Patel family. They even threatened to set the mill on fire. Anjuna Police took immediate action.” 

Sources at the mill informed that the accused had come in a white taxi and on two two-wheelers.