British couple chloroformed, robbed in Goa; two arrested

Panaji: Two burglars were arrested for breaking into a hotel room in the popular Goa beach village of Majorda, rendering a British couple unconscious with chloroform spray and stealing cash, jewellery and other articles worth Rs.4.79 lakh, police said on Saturday.

According to the first information report filed at the Colva police station by 37-year-old Gerald Duncan Hardington, a resident of Sheffield in Britain, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday.

The FIR said unidentified people sprayed chloroform on the couple, who were sleeping in their room at the Good Faith Guest House in Majorda and stole gold rings encrusted with precious stones, as well as other jewellery, foreign currency and Indian rupees to the tune of Rs.4.79 lakh.

Two people, Mario Baptist and Ryan Dias, both local residents, were arrested later, police said.

"We have recovered part of the stolen items. Investigation is on," said a police spokesperson attached to the South Goa district police.