Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: A swift response from residents of Khola on Friday afternoon foiled an alleged attempt by three Telangana policemen and another individual to forcibly take away a local tourism entrepreneur, leading to a police complaint filed at the Canacona police station.
According to the complaint lodged by Jayesh Pagi of Matvem-Khola, a Telangana-registered car with four occupants arrived at his residence claiming they wanted to retrieve belongings from a restaurant at Cabo de Rama. One of the men, previously employed at Pagi’s restaurant, requested store keys. When Pagi refused, he agreed instead to accompany them on his scooter to the restaurant.
However, while still in the locality, the car abruptly halted on the narrow road, and two men allegedly forced Pagi into the vehicle. Sensing danger, Pagi shouted for help, alerting his brother, who quickly used his own car to block the Telangana vehicle. Local residents gathered at the spot, including former Khola ZP member and ex-sarpanch Krishna Velip and former sarpanch Ajay Pagi, and immediately informed Canacona police.
The car occupants claimed a complaint had been registered against Pagi in Hyderabad and said they had come to take him for interrogation. Canacona police later directed both sides to report to the station.
Pagi, who operates a restaurant at Cabo de Rama, submitted a formal complaint naming Hyderabad resident Shrinath Rao and three Telangana police personnel for allegedly attempting to kidnap him. Sources said Pagi, Rao and another local had previously run a tourism business together before parting ways over disputes. Rao is alleged to have continued operations independently and is said to have filed a complaint in Hyderabad over partnership issues.
A crowd gathered at the police station demanded that Rao be produced at Canacona police station by Saturday afternoon.
Former CMC chairperson Divakar Pagui criticised the manner in which the outstation police acted. “If the Hyderabad police had come officially, why was the local police not informed? Why was proper procedure not followed?” he questioned, adding that Pagi had recorded video from inside the car showing empty liquor bottles and other concerning details.
Canacona PI Harish Raut Dessai, speaking while returning from a meeting, said the situation was the result of “misrepresentation”. He confirmed that a case is registered against Pagi in Hyderabad. “The Telangana police arrived to interrogate him but were unable to locate the Canacona police station and went directly to his residence, which angered locals,” he said.
A local Pagi community leader, however, dismissed the explanation, saying: “In the age of Google Maps, it is unlikely that a police team could not find a police station but could locate a remote residence.”
