Team Herald
PANJIM: The receptionist of a hotel at Morod-Mapusa was stabbed multiple times because he protected a girl who was allegedly being blackmailed and sexually exploited by a married man.
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According to police sources, the accused identified as Swanand Kasabe, a native of Maharashtra residing at Guirim, used to bring the girl to the hotel very often and sexually exploit her. They added that Kasabe had compromising videos of the victim, which he used to blackmail her.
On Thursday, the accused brought the girl to the hotel and tried to rape her again. However, the girl managed to flee from the room without Kasabe’s knowledge. When Kasabe realised she was missing, he stormed down to the hotel reception, and questioned receptionist Sandesh Padloskar from Sal, Bicholim. When Sandesh refused to disclose where the girl had gone, the accused got furious and an altercation broke out. Sandesh, who had helped the girl hide, refused to give her up.
The accused, who is married and expecting a baby with his wife, went to Mapusa market, purchased a knife and stabbed Sandesh multiple times, causing injuries on his face and abdomen. Sandesh was initially rushed to Mapusa District Hospital and then shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim in critical condition. The attack occurred at around 5.30 pm on Thursday.
Later, Mapusa Police arrested the accused and produced him before the JMFC Court, where the judge remanded him in police custody for seven days.
