Panaji: The crime branch of Goa Police has apprehended three suspects in connection with the Aug 28 shootout at Hotel Neo Majestic in Porvorim, though the motive behind the firing is yet to be ascertained.Qazu Sheikh, 28, was apprehended from Uttar Pradesh with the assistance of Jaunpur police, while Suraj Acharya, 36, and Israr Ali, 25, were taken into custody from Mumbai. Sheikh and Acharya are residents of Mumbai, while Ali is a native of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.“The arrested accused persons are being interrogated to ascertain their roles, motive behind the incident, circumstances leading to the firing, and the involvement of any other persons connected with the offence,” police said on Thursday.On Aug 28, late in the evening, two unidentified assailants opened fire at Shrinivas Nayak, director of Majestic Pride Group, which operates offshore and onshore casinos in Goa, as he was leaving the hotel for his residence.The accused allegedly fired three to four rounds at Nayak, who escaped unhurt. The assailants fled towards the highway, while Nayak’s bodyguard fired three rounds in response to protect him.“During the course of investigation, the crime branch team along with teams from North District conducted a detailed analysis of CCTV footage obtained from the hotel and surrounding areas, along with technical analysis and other investigative inputs,” police said.The investigating team also examined Nayak, his bodyguard, and other witnesses present at or near the scene. “The statements of witnesses were corroborated with the CCTV footage,” police said.CCTV footage showed the suspects waiting outside the hotel before targeting Nayak. Police said the firing also posed a serious threat to the safety of guests and staff present in the hotel lobby.Porvorim police had registered an attempt-to-murder case following the incident. Chief minister Pramod Sawant announced in the assembly on Aug 31 that the case had been transferred to the crime branch following opposition criticism over the law-and-order situation. The opposition had pointed out that the shooting occurred just metres from the Porvorim police station and the assembly complex.
