Mentally challenged youth damages 48 cars

TEAM HERALD

bureau@herald-goa.com

PONDA: Residents were in a rude shock after a mentally unstable youth went on a rampage and damaged about 48 vehicles, including those owned by a police inspector, a panch and a Zilla Panchayat member, at Mardol early Wednesday morning.

According to locals, the incident occurred at about 4 am when Ramesh Gaude (23) of Akar-Mardol allegedly smashed windscreens and the side door windows of about 48 four wheelers, causing a loss of about Rs 5 lakh.

Police said the accused first targeted cars parked outside the VPK head office along the NH4A bypass road at Mardol and later moved in the interior and damaged vehicles parked along the road near a temple.

The villagers claimed that the accused also entered premises and damaged several other vehicles. Incidentally, the cars that have been damaged also include those belonging to Police Inspector Manoj Mardolkar, Panch Varad Mardolkar and ZP member Shivdas Gaude.

According to Ponda Police, they received a call at about 4.30 am and with assistance from residents, police nabbed the accused. Incidentally, the CCTV camera installed outside a nationalized bank captured the incident, where the accused was reportedly seen damaging two vehicles parked outside the bank.

“It appears to be a case of a psychopathic condition. The accused was earlier sent to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) for similar reasons. The accused was arrested and will be sent to IPHB again. The villagers want the accused to be kept for a longer period at the IPHB, but the decision rests with officials at the IPHB,” informed Ponda PI C L Patil.

Later, Veling-Priol-Cuncolim Sarpanch Damodar Naik, Panch Adv Varad Mardolkar along with villagers filed a police complaint. The members also requested the deputy collector to provide financial assistance in such situations.

Meanwhile, Ponda Police also arrested another person from Mardol, also believed to be mentally unstable, of misbehaving with a woman from the locality. Both the patients have been sent to IPHB Bambolim.