Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 28: In a major breakthrough, Goa Police on Thursday revealed that the sensational Rs 70-lakh Baina dacoity was carried out with crucial inside information allegedly provided by a former employee of the victim’s family. The revelation came as senior officials described the case as a “serious challenge” that required swift coordination across states and relentless investigation by multiple teams.

Addressing a press conference at police headquarters, Director General of Police Alok Kumar said the prime accused had worked for the family until eight to nine months ago and used his familiarity with the house to plan the crime meticulously. The family had failed to conduct mandatory police verification of the employee—a lapse which, officers said, proved costly.

According to the DGP, the accused, who had worked as a helper, knew how to access the residence and which valuables were kept where. Using this knowledge, he allegedly devised the plan and roped in his associates. The other accused were employed elsewhere but joined him based on the information he provided.

Kumar stressed that both tenant and employee verification are essential preventive measures. He expressed concern that despite repeated appeals, many people still fail to share basic details such as photographs, identity documents, and phone numbers with the police, thereby enabling security risks. He urged full public cooperation to ensure such incidents can be prevented or swiftly solved.

South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma confirmed that the verification had not been carried out, adding that the former helper had left the job months before the robbery. Sources told The Goan that the accused previously handled cash and valuables for the family and had near-daily access to both their business and residence. Even after resigning, he allegedly maintained friendly ties to keep track of their movements, crafting the plan after quitting his job.

Treating the case with urgency, police teams were dispatched to Maharashtra and Odisha after tracing equipment and masks used in the break-in to suppliers in those regions. The sustained investigation led officers to the suspects’ movements in Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and Badlapur.

The six accused — Bijoy Kumar Swain, Banshidhar Malik, Suresh Golak Malik, Suryakant Malik, Rajesh Sharat Malik, and Markandya Malik, all from Odisha — were eventually arrested in Maharashtra. They were brought back to Goa on Thursday along with stolen property recovered during the operation.

Police said almost all valuables have been recovered, including gold crowns, bracelets, finger rings, chains, anklets, silver articles, diyas, and cash. The items will be verified with the victim’s family.

DGP Kumar added that recent incidents have prompted the force to reassess policing strategies, including ways to enhance visibility, improve intelligence-gathering, and strengthen night patrols. Internal instructions have been issued to increase community involvement and awareness.

He emphasised that citizens must become “hard targets” by adopting basic security practices, noting that senior officers would oversee the implementation of enhanced measures. While declining to share operational details, the DGP confirmed that the investigation was conducted round the clock and interrogation of the accused is underway.

Police clarified that the Baina dacoity has no connection to the recent cases in Mapusa and Dona Paula, though those two incidents are linked to each other.