The Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class Court on Wednesday remanded two Bangladeshi nation als — Raju B (27) and Safikul R (37) — to nine days of police custody in connection with the recent armed dacoity in Mapusa. Police allege the two were part of a larger, well-organised gang involved in the crime. The duo, who had been traced to Bengaluru, were arrested and brought to Goa under tight security for interrogation. According to po lice sources, the breakthrough came through a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence. Investigators believe Raju and Safikul conspired with at least six other individuals who carried out the robbery in the early hours of October 7, between 3 am and 5 am. The assail ants, masked and armed with knives and iron rods, broke into the residence of Dr Mahendra Kamat Ghanekar — a prominent local physician — by cutting open a window grill. Following the robbery, police suspect the gang moved swiftly across state lines, possibly travelling through Karnataka, Hyderabad, West Bengal, and Meghalaya, before slipping across the international border into Bangladesh.
Authorities fear the remaining accused may have evad ed capture by exploiting a network of safe houses and logistical support spread across multiple states. Describing the group as “highly organised and mobile,” a senior police officer said the suspects — believed to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh — used a well-estab lished network for shelter and movement. While most police teams deployed across India have re turned, a few remain active in West Bengal and Meghalaya, pursuing intelligence leads. If confirmed that the suspects crossed into Bangladesh, investigators acknowledge that tracking and extraditing them will be a formidable chal lenge, requiring diplomatic intervention and coordination with central agencies. “They crossed into Bangladesh through Meghalaya. Bringing them back for trial will require close diplomatic coordination and assistance from central agencies,” a sen ior officer stated on condition of anonymity. When asked by the media about speculation on whether the dacoits have escaped to Bangladesh, Rahul Gupta, SP (North Goa), said: “I cannot confirm it. We are still work ing on it.” To avoid media attention during routine medical check ups, police diverted the two accused from the usual Asilo District Hospital to the Aldona Primary Health Centre be fore presenting them in court
