PANAJI: Two unknown persons attacked a history-sheeter and his cousin from Chimbel with a large heavy knife on Thursday afternoon in the vicinity of sessions court near Panaji Residency.

The superintendent of police, special cell, Mr Atmaram Deshpande told media persons in the Goa police headquarters that the history-sheeter, Mehboob Shah Mullah alias Bichchu (31) and his cousin,  Ramzan Mullah (28) were walking towards the session court after parking their vehicle near the Tourist Hostel.
Mr Deshpande said Mehboob, who  is close to Ashfaque Bengre, was to attend the trial proceedings in an attempt-to-murder case involving Joaquim Rebello from Altinho, which  had taken place in July 2008 at Chimbel.
After assaulting Mehboob and his cousin, the assailants made getaway in their vehicle with weapons.
Both the assaulted persons were rushed to the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment in a 108 ambulance. Ramzan was discharged after being administered first-aid, while Bichchu has been kept under observation as he sustained some injuries, though not grievous.
The police claimed to have got some leads and are hopeful of arresting the assailants. The police have also recorded statements of eyewitnesses.
Stating that Rebello is the prime suspect in Thursday’s assault case, the SP said the assault could be attributed to previous enmity.
When Mehboob was bleeding on the road he told the SDPO, Mr Gajanand Prabhudessai that he has been trying to reform myself.
“Is this the reward for my attempt to reform myself?’’ the history-sheeter asked the SDPO.
Mehboob saw four armed persons approaching towards him when he and his cousin were  walking towards the sessions court. 
The police informed that Bichchu has been  involved in six criminal cases occurred  under the jurisdiction of  different police stations like Maina-Curtorim, Old Goa, Porvorim and Panaji.  The cases are of robbery, assault, attempt to murder, rioting and wrongful assembly.