Motive behind gangster's murder in jail not yet known: Goa CM

Panaji, July 28: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today informed the Assembly that motive behind the murder of gangster Ashpaq Bengre at Colvale jail was not yet known. "The deceased and the person who is arrested for killing shared the same cell.

They never had any dispute or fight in the past. So there is suspicion that there is some other motive for the murder which we are yet to ascertain," Parsekar said, speaking on demands for grants of police and jail departments. Bengre was facing more than 16 cases in Goa, Karnataka and Chandigarh.

The Crime Branch, which is investigating the murder, has arrested Pravin Karbotkar who is involved in 13 cases across Goa and Maharashtra. Parsekar said they were in the same cell as both were undertrials.

"There is some force behind the murder. I don't want to make any comment on the issue as Crime Branch is investigating the case," the Chief Minister said.

The CM also said that undertrials and convicts are kept in separate wings in the Colvale jail.

Referring to the complaint by anti-mining activist Ravindra Velip that he was assaulted in Sada sub-jail where he was lodged for protesting against the transportation of iron ore, Parsekar said the magisterial inquiry found out that there was no truth to it.

Velip had complained that on March 24 this year he was blindfolded and assaulted inside the Sada sub-jail.

PTI