PANAJI
Old Goa Police on Tuesday arrested a St Cruz resident for allegedly attempting to kill government employee Kashinath Shetye during an inspection of suspected illegal land-filling activities in Merces, last week.
The accused, identified as Yogesh Tigade, 40, has been booked for attempted murder.
The incident occurred when Shetye objected to the alleged illegal filling of salt pans and cutting of mangroves in the area during an inspection visit. Shetye alleged that Tigade threatened him with a koita and also hurled stones at him in an attempt to intimidate and assault him.
Shetye further claimed that the alleged land-filling activities are linked to suspected land fraud and continued despite the matter already being pending before a court.
He also alleged that ecologically sensitive areas, including salt pans and mangroves, were being destroyed through illegal land development activities.
