UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS SET FIRE TO MINING TRUCKS

MARGAO: In an incident that has rattled those involved in the mining transportation business in South Goa, unidentified persons set fire to some 12 trucks parked near a mine at Tollem, Sanguem, in the intervening night of Sunday to Monday.

 Sanguem police have registered an offence against unknown persons and investigations are on to nab those responsible, police said. Police sources said the persons selectively targeted 12 trucks belonging to those residing in Uguem, Sanguem, from among scores of trucks parked in the parking lot, to set them ablaze.

This has led police to investigate whether it was an attempt by a rival group to gain supremacy over truckers from that village.

Sources said that the persons opened the bonnets of the 12 trucks and after placing sacks soaked in kerosene inside, set them on fire.

Sources said the persons themselves doused the fire after ensuring that the engines of all the trucks were rendered non-functional.

Had the fire spread to the fuel tanks of the trucks, it would have led to a major incident, police sources said. When contacted, Sanguem police inspector Sagar Ekoskar said the exact motive of the fire was yet to be determined.

"It appears to be a fallout of a business rivalry, though the exact trigger is not known. We have recorded the statements of the affected truck owners. We are investigating the case and the culprits will be nabbed soon," Ekoskar said. Following the incident, a dog squad was pressed into service but no valid clues could be obtained.

Fingerprint experts, however, managed to trace some impressions from the site. Sources said that as is the norm, a large number of trucks are parked overnight regularly by the drivers near the Tollem mine in a bid to be among the first to load their trucks the next morning.