MARCOS GONSALVES
CURCHOREM: In a major breakthrough, the Curchorem Police arrested one Jorvis alias Joel Morrais in connection with the shooting incident at Bansai, Curchorem, over illegal sand mining, which left a labourer dead and another critically injured.
This is the first arrest made by the police nearly 12 days after the incident. On Monday, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had pulled up the State authorities for failing to crack down on the illegal sand mining.
It has been revealed that the gunfire incident was a result of a gang war between two rival groups engaged in illegal sand mining.
Yes, like a Bombay style gang war where two rival gangsters fight over a territory of crime
However, the police are yet to lay their hands on other big fish. The police arrested Morrais on Monday evening and suspect the involvement of more persons.
A police source told Herald that they suspect the involvement of some political leaders in the illegal sand mining at Curchorem, which led to the shootout resulting in the death of a migrant labourer.
At the same time, social activists and citizens opined that Yusuf Alam could have been saved if the police had investigated a similar shooting incident reported in January this year.
The Curchorem Police said more arrests are likely to be made in the case in the coming days, as the cops claim to have enough evidence to nab the others involved in the crime.
Curchorem PI Vaibhav Naik said Jorvis, who has been arrested from Curchorem, was from the rival group involved in sand mining.
“After primary investigation, it has been revealed that the person arrested was involved in the gunfire on the labourers engaged in illegal sand extraction and had enmity against the rival group. More persons are likely to be arrested in the coming days, as the investigation is still in progress,” PI Naik said.
He refused to divulge more details about the arrest and the accused, stating that it can hamper further investigations.
The PI said Jorvis could also be involved in the shooting incident which was reported in January this year, in which no one was injured.
However, the citizens claimed that if the police had acted then, the recent tragedy could have been averted.
“I have no much information on the incident that took place in January, as I took charge of the Curchorem Police Station just a month ago. However, we will now investigate that incident, as there are possibilities of a link between the two crimes,” said PI Naik.
Earlier, NGO Goa Foundation had informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa of the Curchorem shooting incident.
The Court had even ordered police patrolling, seizure of canoes and impounding of trucks involved in transporting sand.
Interestingly, the High Court had further said that authorities don’t appear to be seriously interested in implementing the orders from time to time and has now directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit about the measures taken to curb illegal sand mining.
