The oft-repeated question that Goa is a safe heaven for outstation criminal elements came to the fore again on Friday after the Margao police arrested a 35-year-old murder convict from Ratnagiri-Maharashtra carrying an USA-make 9mm pistol and three bullets in the heart of the city.
The arrest of the accused also exposed the tenant verification exercise, as it came to light that the murder convict was residing in a rented room at Nagmodem without the landlady submitting the tenant verification form to the police.
Faik Mustaka Ahmed Karambelkar was residing at Nagmodem in Navelim in a rented premise for over a year and half now. He was moving around the city in a black coloured Maharashtra registered Swift car by posing himself at Sahil Solkar, a native of Sion Koliwada.
Acting on a tip off, Karambelkar was apprehended from Calconda by a team of Margao police led by PI Sudesh Naik, where he used to park his vehicle and speak on his cell phones for hours together. During the search, a 9mm pistol and three bullets were found in his possession besides gold jewellery. The movements of the accused came under the scanner when he was found moving in a Maharashtra registered vehicle and was always found busy talking on his cell phone. Preliminary investigations revealed that he used to receive money from his business back in Ratnagiri for his sustenance.
Giving details, PI Sudesh Naik said that investigations by Margao police revealed that Karambelkar was a murder convict from Ratnagiri, who had jumped parole in October 2010 and since then was into hiding. The accused along with three others, was convicted for the murder of Fayez Shakeel in February 2006 and was later given three months parole in October 2010.
“Initially, the accused posed himself as Sahil Solkar, but when we contacted the Sion police, they said there’s no one staying in their area by that name. After prolonged interrogations, he disclosed his correct name,” PI Naik said. The police have attached the firearm and the cell phones, which were in his possession.
Replying to a question, PI Sudesh Naik said the Margao police would initiate proceedings against the landlady Felina Colaco for leasing her room to the accused for not following the tenant verification procedure. “The landlady claimed that she could not return the tenant verification form to the police since the accused had not given his photograph,” he said.
DySP Mohan Naik said the police have gathered information that the accused was also involved in an attempt to murder at Ghatkopar-Mumbai. “We are trying to gather information on criminal activities of the accused in Goa,” he said.
The Margao police have intimated their Ratnagiri counterparts on the arrest of the accused.
Source: heraldgoa
