
In the dead of night, the Margao–Colva belt turned into a war zone. Armed men with swords,koytas, and guns descended on the quiet Mungul stretch, leaving two young men bloodied and a car riddled with bullet holes. The brazen attack, carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, has shaken Salcete and stoked fears of a dangerous escalation in Goa’s gang rivalries.
Police said the victims, Rafiq Tashan (24) and Yuvkesh Singh Badaila (20), were travelling along the Margao–Colva Road when their car was intercepted near Shagun Restaurant at around 2:45 am. The assailants — identified as Akshay Talwar and Rahul Talwar (both from Borda), Wilson Carvalho, Shahrukh from Davorlim, Rasool of Margao and about 15 masked accomplices — arrived in multiple vehicles, including an Innova and four other cars. Armed with swords, sticks, soda bottles, andkoytas, they allegedly assaulted the victims and fired two bullets at their car before fleeing.
The attack left both men injured; Tashan was hospitalised, while Singh also received medical treatment. Police confirmed that the bullets struck the victims’ car, causing significant damage.
The investigation is being led by PSI Atikesh Khedekar of the Fatorda Police Station. A case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and the Arms Act, 1959.
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Benaulim (July 2024):Eight youths, including two minors, were involved in an attempted murder using a wooden club, metal rod, and knife
Merces (June 2018):A clash between two groups near Merces market left four injured, with knives, choppers, beer bottles, swords, and reportedly a gun used in the fight
Taleigao & Ribandar (July 2019):A sword attack during a gang war resulted in a youth’s wrist being chopped off. The fight began in Taleigao and ended in Ribandar
Santa Cruz (July 2020):A shootout between rival gangs “Boom Boom” and “Bang Bang” erupted over supremacy, a violent fallout of their ongoing rivalry