Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Police have foiled a daring dacoity plot, arresting one out of five accused who had meticulously planned to strike a jewellery shop in Navelim. Two others were arrested by police in Karnataka. The gang, hailing from Rajasthan, had made elaborate preparations in Bangalore, and were carrying illegal firearms.
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According to South Goa Superintendent of Police Sunita Sawant, the accused Govardhan Rajpurohit, Shamlal, and Sandip Jhat arrived in Margao on July 23, and stayed in a hotel. They then hired a car and a two-wheeler and visited Navelim, making preparations for the armed robbery.
However, their plans were busted when Collem Police arrested a member of their gang, Ladu Singh, 22, at the Mollem check post on July 27. Singh was found in possession of a country made pistol and magazine, with three live cartridges in it. Singh, who was travelling towards Ponda after entering Goa, did not have any valid documents for the firearm.
The three other gang members are believed to have returned to Karnataka, where Govardhan Rajpurohit and Shamlal were arrested by the Ramanagara police.
Based on a complaint from PSI Harish Naik of the Collem Police Station, the Margao police have booked the accused, Ladu Singh and Rakesh Prajapati under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act 2023 and the Indian Arms Act. Both men had prior criminal records.
The complaint stated that the accused conspired together in Bangalore to commit armed dacoity at the jewellery shop. They made necessary preparations, including hiring vehicles and reconnaissance of the area.
Ladu Singh has been remanded to four-day police custody, while the other accused are likely to be brought down from Ramnagar and taken into police custody.
