Dhargal Attack: Accused Reveals How He Procured Acid for Chemical Attack in Pernem

Team Goemkarponn

PERNEM: In a shocking turn of events, Nilesh s/o Gajanand Dessai, a 46-year-old man from Maharashtra, has been arrested in connection with a chemical attack on a minor in Pernem.

The accused’s confession during police interrogation has raised serious concerns about the accessibility and theft of dangerous chemicals in the region.

In his disclosure, Dessai admitted to stealing a 5-liter can of acid from a glass manufacturing company located in the Industrial Estate of Karaswada, Goa.

According to police sources, Dessai had been working at the company as a gardener for just over a week before he carried out the theft.

The accused explained that he used his position at the company to steal the acid without raising suspicion.

The stolen chemical, which Dessai described as highly corrosive, was hidden inside his Activa scooter and covered with a raincoat to avoid detection.

Dessai reportedly planned to use the acid in a vengeful attack against the victim, a minor who had been in a relationship with his daughter.

The tragic death of his daughter and the end of the relationship between the victim and his daughter had reportedly driven Dessai to commit the crime.

The police confirmed that the acid was intended for use on the victim, with the accused stating that he was filled with anger and grief over his daughter’s death.

Authorities have expressed concerns over the ease with which dangerous chemicals like acid are accessible, particularly in industrial areas, raising questions about safety protocols in workplaces.

Following the arrest, the authorities conducted a medical examination of Dessai at the Goa Medical College (GMC) to verify whether he had any traces of the stolen acid on his body.

The forensic team also seized his Activa scooter, helmet, and raincoat, all of which will undergo further examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to check for any residual chemical traces.

Dessai is also facing charges related to the theft of the acid, and an FIR is set to be filed with Mapusa Police Station regarding the stolen chemicals. He was produced before the JMFC Court in Pernem on July 1, 2025, where he was remanded into police custody for two days. The accused will be presented before the Children’s Court in Panaji on July 3, 2025, for further proceedings.