I saw him getting tortured, dragged and beaten: Georgina
In a harrowing tale, Georgina Nunes, who first complained against Cipriano and travelled in the Bolero sued by the police to bring Cipriano to the Panjim police station from Porvorim, tells all to the State Police complaints Authority in her deposition on January 25. This report is from the second and more important part of her deposition, in possession of the Herald. For the purpose of clarity, some parts of the statement have been slightly re-written.
By Vibha Verma
“Soon after the vehicle re-started its journey to Panjim I heard that some noise and commotion ‘daddam dudump zaunk laglem fatlean’ was going on in the rear seat where Cipriano and the two policemen were seated. I could not see what was going on because the driver of the vehicle told me not to look behind”
“Constable Shirvaikar directed the driver to drive to Panjim police station. After that I heard Cipriano telling them to leave his hair which I presume the policemen were pulling at that time and saying ‘sodai re paem podtam, moje kens dukta’. Leave my hair and I beg you for God sake my hair are paining,”
According to Georgina, on reaching the Panjim bus stand a panicky Cipriano began reciting prayers. “I heard Cipriano screaming in pain ‘Saiba tum maka pau’, ‘Alla Akbar’ and ‘Om Namah Sivam’.”
“I also remember that later on when Cipriano said ‘Om Nama Shivam’ Shirvaikar telling him ‘tuzo on nama shivam kadtam bhair.” she added.
Soon after the vehicle reached Old Patto Bridge, Georgina saw Cipriano’s left leg stretched till the brakes to which the driver, identified as Ryan threatened him break his legs if he didn’t take it off the brakes of the vehicle.
Cipriano obeyed but his leg once again slid through the gap. The driver pushed back Cipriano’s leg but it once again fell on the brakes on reaching the Old Secretariat.
The policemen then threatened him showing the ‘lathi’ but Cipriano failed to respond to any orders. They then reached the police station.
Another scene of police brutality!
The Bolero reached the Panjim police station wherein Cipriano was asked to get off the car which he did not react. “…I continued sitting inside the vehicle, the driver and the police men got down and started pulling out Cipriano form the vehicle. While doing so I then lifted Cipriano’s leg which was on the left brake of the vehicle and placed it on the driver seat in order to make it easy for them to remove Cipriano,” she said.
“While lifting the leg of Cipriano, I turned back and saw him with his eyes and mouth closed. I then thought that Cipriano might be pretending to show he was unconscious. I saw Shirvaikar and the other constable dragging Ciprianos body to a room attached to PI Sadesh Chodankars cabin.
Seated in the ‘visitor’s room’ of the police station, Georgina saw Shirvaikar pulling out a ‘khaki colour belt’ and getting in the room where Cipriano was lodged.
“After that I heard sounds of blows given with belt inside that room. The driver then came near me and told me to go home,”
It was 10.30 PM. Ciprianos ordeal had only just begun.
