Panaji: A local casino director may soon be roaming the state with a police escort and pilot vehicles — a privilege currently afforded only to the chief minister — if Goa police accept Majestic Pride Group director Shrinivas Nayak’s request.Nayak has demanded the protection citing continuing threats to his life after an alleged armed attack and attempt to murder on Aug 28. Police have arrested six people in connection with the case.In Goa, apart from the chief minister, not even other cabinet ministers get police escort and pilot vehicles.In a letter to police, Nayak said that two unknown armed assailants carried out a targeted attack upon him at Hotel Neo Majestic by opening fire at him. “The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the movements and conduct of the assailants prior to the attack, give rise to a serious apprehension that the attack was premeditated and planned. A complaint in respect of the said incident has already been lodged with the Porvorim police station and the matter is presently under investigation,” he said.“During the said armed attack, my personal bodyguard was compelled to discharge rounds from his licensed firearm solely for the purpose of protecting my life and repelling the continuing armed attack. Pursuant to the investigation, the firearm of his bodyguard has been attached by the police for the purpose of forensic and ballistic examination. Consequently, the armed protection which was otherwise available to me through my bodyguard has, for the present, been materially affected,” he said.More importantly, the two assailants who carried out the attack, as well as the persons, if any, who may have planned, instructed, financed, facilitated or otherwise been involved in the attack, are yet to be identified and/or apprehended and continue to remain at large, he said.“In these circumstances, I have a genuine and reasonable apprehension that the threat to my life has not ceased merely because I survived the first attack. On the contrary, until the assailants and all persons involved in the planning and execution of the attack are identified and apprehended, there remains a real, immediate, and continuing possibility of a further attempt being made upon my life,” he said.Nayak said that the threat assumes greater seriousness considering that the earlier attack was carried out with firearms by two assailants who appear to have waited for his movement before opening fire upon him. He is required to travel regularly between his residence, office, and various places in connection with his professional and business responsibilities.“My movements necessarily expose me to public roads and locations where adequate protection cannot be ensured merely through ordinary private security arrangements,” he said.Nayak said he is ready and willing to comply with all requirements, security protocols, and directions prescribed by the police and to provide any further information or documents required for assessing the threat perception and determining the appropriate security arrangement.
