PANJIM: The ongoing magisterial inquiry into tribal leader Ravindra Velip’s assault case has called for related documents and close circuit television camera (CCTV) footage from Prison authorities with deadline for submission set on Tuesday.
But ironically, no CCTV in Sada sub-jail, where Velip was blindfolded and brutally attacked by unidentified persons on March 23, is reportedly functioning for the past many months.
“As a part of the inquiry, I have sought for all the case-related documents and video footage of the alleged crime spot in the judicial lock-up. Based on this evidence at this initial stage of inquiry, we will proceed further,” Swapnil M Naik, Additional Collector, North Goa, said speaking to Herald.
The inquiry, assisted by Deputy Director of Tourism Arvind Kotkar has also approached the local police station seeking details of the investigation carried out so far. However, the Mormugao police station has yet not registered an FIR even after 18 days of the incident.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on March 29 had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the brutal attack on anti-illegal mining activist after Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes-led internal inquiry report pointed out various discrepancies and contradictions in statements of the inmates and jail officials.
The officer in charge will have to submit the report within 21 days of taking over the probe.
In his report to the government, Gomes had recommended an independent probe citing various loopholes such as non-functioning of the CCTV cameras installed in the jail premise.
In his complaint to the government, Velip had alleged that he was suddenly attacked from behind by around four persons, who first blindfolded him and gagged him with a cloth. They then beat him mercilessly with boots and fists. “I was lifted and thrown down from a height resulting in multiple fractures to my forearm and severe pain in my neck,” he had alleged in his complaint to the government stating the attack was in retaliation to the villagers’ attempt to stall unregulated mining at Caurem.
Meanwhile, the Caurem tribals held a peaceful protest demanding to act against the illegal transportation of ore, suspension of jail officials and registration of FIR.
They also burnt the statue of Sanguem MLA Subhash Faldessai.
