Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: A woman residing in Canacona for the past several years has alleged that an unidentified scooter rider attempted to molest her on the poorly lit Agonda-Canacona road on Friday evening.
According to the complainant, who is in her mid-30s, the incident occurred around 7.45 pm while she was travelling on her scooter from Agonda towards Canacona. She claimed the accused, riding another scooter, allegedly followed her before intercepting her on a dark stretch near Dumane.
Recounting the incident, the woman said the rider slowed down beside her and asked for directions to Palolem beach. After she responded, the man allegedly behaved suspiciously and suddenly tried to touch her inappropriately. Shocked by the act, she immediately accelerated and moved ahead.
The accused then reportedly turned his scooter around near a nearby compound and fled towards Agonda under the cover of darkness.
The woman said the entire stretch lacked streetlights and CCTV surveillance, making it difficult for her to identify the suspect or note the scooter’s registration number. She added that the rider was wearing a helmet, though she could partially make out his facial features.
Deeply shaken by the incident, the woman later approached the Canacona Police Station and lodged a formal complaint. Police have registered an offence under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and PSI Ajit Velip is conducting further investigation.
The complainant, originally from Kerala and presently settled in Canacona with her husband for the last five years, stated that this was the first such incident she had experienced in Goa.
She also raised concerns over the lack of illumination and surveillance along the stretch, pointing out that the area has witnessed serious crimes in the past, including the rape and murder of Irish-British tourist Danielle McLaughlin.
The woman urged authorities to improve lighting and install CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas to ensure the safety of women travelling at night. Police said night patrolling in the area would be intensified as part of preventive measures.
