Panaji: While various questions are being raised on the motive behind Margao jeweller Swapnil Walke murder, the 3 accused persons arrested in the case had reportedly pre-planned to rob the jewellery store, the initial police investigation has revealed.
Police sources said that the accused targeted the jewellery store after conducting a recce.
While in few other jewellery stores, there were more than one person, the accused saw Walke alone in the store and tried to execute their plan, informed the sources.
A stolen car was also kept ready outside the store to flee once the plan was executed.
The sources informed that even after being shot, Walke put up a brave fight trying to resist the attackers. During this time, Walke was allegedly stabbed multiple times and that he followed them outside the store.
As the robbery plan went wrong, the accused fled from the scene, leaving behind the car, the sources claimed. The accused Omkar Patil, Mustafa Shaikh and Evender Rodrigues are currently in the custody of the Crime Branch police.
These accused have previous involvement in crime, said the police. The sources claimed that the accused had procured country-made pistol from Bihar.
Forty one-year-old Walke was killed on last Wednesday. As per the information, the postmortem report has revealed bullet injuries and other sharp injury marks on the body.
In connection with the case the police have recovered a country-made pistol along with a magazine, 1 empty cartridge, 3 live rounds and knife.
A four wheeler used in the crime was also attached. The case has been transferred from Margao police to the Crime Branch.
Police inspector C L Patil is investigating the case.
