Team Herald
PANJIM/CALANGUTE: A quarrel between two men led to the killing of one with the accused himself phoning the police confessing his crime and willing to surrender.
Santosh Chattar, a native of Nagpur and working as a waiter at a Baga-hotel called up the police control room late Thursday night informing about the murder he allegedly committed.
“He called up the police control room informing that he had murdered one person and he was coming to the (Calangute) police station,” a police officer told Herald.
A little while ago, Chattar had stabbed Darjeeling-native Rakesh Rai on his chest and stomach with a knife following a bitter fight between the two. Both were allegedly drunk at the time of the offence and they were accompanied by four others.
“When he called up the police we took no chance as there was every possibility that the accused could change his mind. Based on sketchy details he confessed to the police, we formed a team and proceeded towards the crime site. We then saw a man waving off near Dolphin circle. He identified himself and was taken into custody. He was brought to the police station and placed under arrest,” said the officer. The weapon was also handed over to the police.
In the meantime, the victim was rushed to the Primary Health Centre and later to Goa Medical College as he was still breathing but succumbed while undergoing treatment on Friday morning. The deceased was working at a fast food joint at Candolim. “He had multiple injuries on his body,” he said.
The alleged incident happened at around 10.30 pm near Love Shack at Baga. The police team led by PI Jivba Dalvi are recording statements of the witnesses.
On the other side, with the increase in crime such as murder and attempt to murder in Calangute constituency, the people of Calangute feel that they are under threat and anything can happen any time.
One Lobo, a local, said, “Increase in crime in Calangute and surrounding areas is now forcing us not to let our children out of the house because anyone comes and stabs or assaults anyone. They (non-Goans) drink in public areas and then fight with the locals. This needs to be stopped.”
Mahesh Naik, another local said, “This is the second murder in the last two months. We don’t know what is happening in Calangute. After prostitution and drugs, now murders are haunting Calangute.”
