Team Herald
VASCO: One crew member of a fishing trawler at sea was murdered following a fight between crew members. Two crew members were rescued while two others, including the murder accused, are missing.
The incident occurred onboard a fishing trawler “Dhanlaxmi 24” from Gujarat around 22 nautical miles off Goa coast on Thursday afternoon.
The Harbour Coastal Security Police said that Umesh Swamla, 33 from Assam allegedly assaulted another crew Tandel Mahendrabhai Solanki, 33 of Gujarat with a hammer, causing severe head Injuries. Solanki then attacked three other crew members Kishorbhai Vegal, 33, Yogesh Sikotria, 27 and Ajay Panjori, 25, all from Gujarat and they fell in the sea. Solanki later succumbed to his injuries.
The crew from other trawlers fishing nearby noticed them fighting and rushed to their rescue. They rescued Kishorbhai Vegal and Yogesh Sikotria who had fallen in waters, but could not trace Ajay Panjori.
Seeing other fishing trawlers rushing towards his vessel, the accused Umesh Swamla panicked and jumped into the sea. He too could not be traced.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the deceased’s brother Pratap Solanki, the Harbour Coastal Security Police have registered a case against Umesh Swamla under sections 302 and 324 of IPC. The police have sought the help of the Indian Coast Guard to conduct a search and rescue operation for the two missing crew members.
