Raia murder case: Two accused on the run arrested

Margao: With the arrest of Joel Gracia (24), a resident of Loutolim , and Orfin Colaco (22), a resident of Raia, the last two accused in the Raia murder case, it has now come to light that Gracia plotted and executed the murder with the aid of his accomplices. Gracia wanted to avenge the assault on him by Francisco Calvalho, a year ago in a fit of drunken stupor.

Both Gracia and Colaco had evaded the police for nearly a week by being continuously on the move until they were nabbed at Margao on September 12. The murder took place on September 6.

Police sources said that the duo after committing the murder took shelter at a friend’s house in Xeldem, before fleeing to Mumbai. Colaco had also sold his gold bracelets for Rs 70,000 to meet their expenses during their hideout. From Mumbai, the duo proceeded to Pune and Kolhapur before returning to Goa when they were nabbed by the police in Margao.

The police had earlier arrested four persons in the case – Royan Alvares (21), Valencio Vaz (26), Vilton Coutinho (34) and Melburn Coutinho (22).

Police sources said that Francisco had attacked Gracia with a broken beer bottle following a dispute almost a year ago.

On September 6, when Francisco picked up a quarrel with Gracia and his companions at a bar in Raia, Gracia decided to settle old scores with him. While some of the other accused retaliated to Fransisco’s provocations by assaulting him, Gracia allegedly stabbed him with a broken glass. Later the accused took Francisco on a two-wheeler ridden by Colaco to the old Borim bridge at Loutolim where Gracia once again stabbed him with a knife. They then dumped the body on the platform of the bridge pier and threw away the knife used in the crime at a spot near the Verna industrial estate, which was later recovered by the police.

Police sources said that both Gracia and Colaco were watching the police conducting the inquest panchnama after Fransisco’s body was recovered on September 6. It was only when the police arrested their four accomplices for murder, the duo fled to Mumbai.

Gracia allegedly stabbed Francisco with a broken glass and later took him on a two-wheeler ridden by Colaco to the old Borim bridge at Loutolim where Gracia once again stabbed him with a knife. They then dumped the body on the platform of the bridge pier