MARGAO: A prime eyewitness in the Balli rioting case, who had earlier made a statement to the police of having seen the two prime accused and 25 others in the case at Anchal Cashew Factory at Balli, denied the same during the cross examination on Friday.
Eyewitness Soiru Velip was cross-examined before Additional Session Judge Vincent D’Silva on Friday. Fourteen accused, including the two prime accused Deepak Faldessai and Prashant Dessai, appeared before the court.
In his earlier statement, Velip stated that he had seen around 25 people entering the cashew factory and setting it on fire, and that he had seen Deepak and Prashant also entering the factory. But during the cross-examination, he stated that he saw them at the gate, but not entering the factory.
Incidentally, Velip was trapped inside the factory when it was set on fire and he reportedly managed to escape with four others. Initially, he claimed that there were two more left behind and there was nobody to rescue them.
The case is adjourned for the examination of another eyewitness Prashant Velip on September 30.
