MARGAO: There was blood on the streets of Margao. Literally. A prominent city jeweller Swapnil Walke, was shot, then stabbed multiple times, by a group of three robbers, in his jewellery shop, then sat bleeding on the footpath outside his shop, in broad daylight, in full view of the public, before he succumbed on the way to the hospital.
Walke was the Secretary of All Goa Gold Dealers Association and the son of BJP Executive Committee member Krishni Walke.
This is a tragic, horrific story at so many levels in a genteel town known for its class, graciousness, peace and above all safety. The doors were literally shut to all of that on this black Wednesday.
The horror story commenced between 12noon and 12.15 pm in the afternoon. The police received the information at 12.48 hrs informing an assault on a jeweller in Margao area near Sapna Plaza. Police Inspector Margao Town along with the staff rushed to the spot and found Swapnil Walke, 41 years severely injured. The PI immediately shifted the victim to the Hospicio Hospital, Margao where the victim was declared “brought dead”.
The dog squad was called at the spot and forensic team inspected the scene of crime, in and outside Krishni Jewellers, owned by Walke.
A person living near the shop had captured the later part of the gruesome developments on his mobile phone in which three persons are seen running towards the far end of the street in which the shop is located.
During the inspection of the scene of crime, a country-made pistol was recovered along with a magazine, 1 empty cartridge, 3 live rounds and one knife cover. During the preliminary investigations, nothing has been reported to be missing from the shop. The knife was recovered while the sniffer dog went on trail of the robbers.
A case vide FIR no 191/20 has been registered under sections 302/34 IPC and 3/25 Arms act.
The body of the victim has been preserved at the TB hospital, Margao.
Multiple teams have been constituted to trace the accused persons. CCTV footage inside and outside the shop has been seized and is being examined.
The incident has shaken the Madgaonkars from the core and has evoked anger amongst the generally laid back and peace-loving residents.