PANAJI: In a disturbing turn of events early Tuesday morning, two labourers were shot in the Pernem area of North Goa. The incident occurred around 2:30 AM when an unidentified man opened fire on the labourers, identified as Ramrishi Paswan (54) and Lalbabu Goud (37), both hailing from Bihar. The victims sustained gunshot wounds, with Paswan hit in the neck and Goud in the stomach.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta stated that the Crime Branch and Pernem police are jointly investigating the matter and expressed confidence in a swift breakthrough. The shooting took place near the Terekhol river, a border area between Goa and Maharashtra, known for its involvement in sand mining activities, which are prohibited in Goa.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress media head Amarnath Panjikar condemning the state government. He stated, “It is appalling that Goa, once known for peace and safety, has now turned into a land of crime, violence and lawlessness all because of the BJP’s patronage to illegal activities like sand extraction, drug trade, and land mafia. The Pernem firing incident is yet another reminder that the BJP government has failed miserably to protect the lives of ordinary people.”