Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after the Goa government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the assault on tribal leader Ravindra Velip at Sada sub-jail, a fact-finding team has questioned the delay in registering an FIR even eight days after the incident.
NGO Federation of Rainbow Warriors instituted a committee that claims to have interviewed the victim, tribal leaders, academics and others in the course of their inquiry but has failed to inspect the crime scene or question the jail officials over the attack.
“They (Prisons authorities) wouldn’t have allowed us in (the jail). But we have spoken to a vast number of people concerning the matter,” one of the members on the committee and human rights lawyer Nandita Haksar told the media conceding that the report does not have the jail authorities’ version.
Based on their independent inquiry, whose report is yet to be submitted to the government, the committee demanded that the Sadhana Multipurpose Cooperative Society formed by Caurem residents be registered immediately.
“In the light of our findings, we demand that an independent inquiry be ordered into why the police failed to register a FIR in violation of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. Moreover, as per the Indian Constitution, the Caurem cooperative society should not only be registered immediately but government must offer all help to make it a success,” says an extract from the recommendation.
The inquiry further questions as to how the attack on Velip could go unnoticed when he was blindfolded, gagged and beaten right above the jail warden’s office. “He was outside Cell number 10 going towards the toilet. Velip managed to remove the gag and shout for help. It was thereafter that his brother (also lodged in the jail for the protest against the illegal transportation of ore) rushed to his help. How could the warden not hear all this,” she questioned.
The inquiry committee has also sought that the Prisons authorities compensate the victim over their failure to protect him.
“Taking into account the basic tenets of good governance based on accountability and transparency the village panchayats be given full powers to oversee the mining operations to ensure there are no illegalities. The State commission for SC/ST could play a more pro-active role to ensure the tribals get social-economic and political justice,” the recommendation further states.
