Quarrel at night triggered attack, says witness
PANJIM, AUG 9
A quarrel between a clerk and a labourer led to a fatal assault at Mala in Panjim on August 8-9, resulting in the death of the former. Body of Shantaram Laxman Gaonkar was found in a pool of blood early Monday morning, soon after which a case of murder was registered, Panjim police informed reporters.
Govind Gir of Nepal, a prime suspect of executing the act is absconding even as police have launched a manhunt to trace him. A native of Castlerock in Karnataka, the 46-year-old Shantaram’s rear head was brutally smashed and face slightly distorted.
The investigating team has located a blood-stained knife near the corpse, broken beer bottle and its pieces scattered around the room.
According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police Deu Benaulikar, the fatal assault is a result of a “sudden” quarrel, though it is yet to ascertain the exact motive.
“An eye-witness of the quarrel Lal Singh Oli informed police that Govind in an inebriated condition triggered a quarrel with Shantaram at about 9 pm on Sunday. Govind then began assaulting the victim. When Lal intervened Govind threatened him of consequences. He (Lal) then fled from the scene,” said the officer, quoting the lone witness in the case.
The threesome along with five others shared seven small rooms (compartments) in a house near Four-Pillars at Mala.
What happened after the quarrel-assault is not known till the arrest of the absconder. “He was most likely killed in the night…It is difficult to ascertain the motive but presently we presume it is a sudden quarrel,” the officer replying to a question on the motive of the assault stated.
The body was first discovered by Parag Karmali, owner of Pushparaj Sawmill situated at Mala at about 11 am. The victim and the alleged accused were employed with Karmali, as clerk-cum-cashier and labourer, respectively. The absconder, also performed his duty of a watchman with Pro-Interactive Security at a St Inez ATM centre in the night.
