MARGAO, DEC 30
The accused in the Moti Dongor attack are still at large for the third day today, even as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat visited Hospicio hospital on Thursday noon to inquire about the condition of injured Maqbool.
The chief minister along with Margao PI Santosh Desai visited the Hospicio hospital in a private car around noon to inquire Maqbool’s condition. Hospicio doctors and staff were present when the chief minister came to see the injured.
The chief minister’s visit assumes significance and is believed to be part of efforts to bring peace amongst the warring sections in the Moti Dongor locality – his stronghold in the Margao Assembly constituency.
Though Maqbool has been a close supporter of the chief minister over the years, he had openly worked against Kamat’s cousin brother, Laxmikant in the municipal polls.
Meanwhile, PI Desai said that the police raided possible hideouts last night to lay their hands on accused Bashir Sheikh and three others assailants, absconding since the attack on Maqbool, besides women and children atop Moti Dongor.
“We conducted raids at some of the likely places frequented by the accused persons,” PI Desai said, while exuding confidence of nabbing the four accused soon.
The police have maintained skeletal presence on the hillock as a precautionary measure in view of the fact that Maqbool is still convalescing at Hospicio hospital.
Meanwhile, the four persons arrested in the case have moved for regular bail before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao.
Sources in the know, however, said that the bail applications might be withdrawn by the accused persons and file fresh applications before the Sessions Court after the Margao police slapped section 307 of the IPC against the accused persons.
