Digital Goa, Nov 2 – Pernem Police have arrested five locals, including two IRBn policemen, for their involvement in the Ugvem-Pernem firing incident.Those arrested are Nehal Nitin Mahale (20), Ashish Shivaji Mahale (24), Akash Arun Mahale (24), IRBn Police Constable Rishikesh Dasharat Mahale (32), and IRBn Police Constable Gangaram Gopichand Mahale (34). According to the police, the incident appears to have stemmed from disputes related to illegal sand extraction in the area. Locals reportedly feared that their paddy fields and agricultural land would be destroyed due to the illegal activity. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against all police personnel involved in the case, said a senior police official. It may be recalled that in the early hours of October 28, unknown persons had opened fire on labourers involved in illegal sand extraction in the Terekhol river near Ugvem. Two labourers, both natives of Bihar, were seriously injured in the incident and are still undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College.
