Panaji: Goa Police are searching for two unidentified assailants who allegedly fired at the director of a casino group near a five-star hotel in Porvorim, a senior police officer said on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Friday evening only a short distance from the Porvorim police station, triggering criticism from the Opposition Congress, which alleged that the shooting raised fresh questions about the state’s law and order situation.
Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Harishchandra Naik said the attackers fired three shots at Srinivas Nayak, director of Majestic Pride Hotels and Resorts, at approximately 8.45 pm.
Nayak was inside his vehicle along with his bodyguards when the two men allegedly opened fire. He was not injured. His security personnel retaliated, following which the assailants fled from the spot.
The area’s CCTV cameras captured the suspects waiting close to the hotel entrance before shooting at Nayak’s car. The footage was subsequently made public.
A search operation has been launched across the area to identify and apprehend the two men, police said.
Nayak later said he was safe and had escaped the attack without suffering any injuries.
“I am fine. I was not hurt,” he told PTI.
Majestic Pride operates an offshore casino and also owns the five-star hotel in Porvorim outside which the firing took place.
Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar meanwhile condemned the incident and accused the BJP-led state government of failing to maintain law and order.
“A firing incident reportedly takes place just metres away from the Porvorim police station. If criminals can allegedly open fire in the vicinity of a police station, how safe is the common Goan?” Chodankar said in a social media post.
He further questioned whether the government was capable of protecting even those believed to be close to the BJP establishment.
“Goa deserves safety, not fear. Security, not gunfire,” he said.