PONDA: The Ponda Police on Monday arrested two Kerya residents for allegedly assaulting two Animal Rescue Squad (ARS) members on suspicion that they had come to release a snake rescued by them close to a residential area at Kerya, Khandepar.
The duo was arrested based on a complaint filed by ARS members and the video of incident shot by the accused.
Fifty-five-year-old Antony Francis Xavier Gomes and 41-year-old Dominic Francis Xavier Gomes, both residents of Kerya Khandepar, were arrested for allegedly assaulting snake rescuers Mohan Gaude and his colleague on their return from Usgao to Kerya.
According to complainant Mohan Gaude, he and his colleague had gone to Usgao on September 18 after receiving a call that a snake had strayed into a residential area. After the rescue operation, Gaude stopped his bike at Kerya to answer nature’s call. Suddenly, the two accused arrived and on noticing a snake rescue stick and the snake in his bag, they started assaulting the complainant and his colleague.
Mohan said he sustained head injuries after being attacked with a helmet. The accused even shot a video of the assault, abused and threatened the ARS members of dire consequences.
Later, Ponda Police arrested both the accused.
Gaude filed the complaint with help of Ponda Animal Rescue Squad chief Charan Dessai.
The ARS squad members protested the assault on their colleagues at Ponda Police Station.
