PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Thursday recommended the Goa Police department to give compensation of Rs 50,000 to a woman, who was injured after being hit by a bullet during practice firing at Lakherem Firing Range of the Goa Police at Maulinguem, Bicholim.
The bullet had hit the woman Urmila Gaonkar while she was washing clothes near her home in January 2021. The compensation of Rs 50,000 is to be paid within 30 days from the date of the order along with simple Interest thereon at six per cent per annum from the date of the complaint i.e. June 7, 2022 till final payment.
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The firing range was shut after the incident as locals were up in arms against the firing range over safety concerns.
The complainant is residing at Maulinguem at a distance of around three kilometres from her house. On January 27, 2021, when she was working at her residence a bullet from a gun fired from the Lakherem Firing Range penetrated and hit her right leg. She took medical treatment for around eight to 10 days but as the swelling of her leg had not disappeared, she was taken to the Goa Medical College on February 3, 2021, wherein she underwent a surgery for removing a bullet from her right leg and was discharged on February 6, 2021.
In its reply the Goa Police incharge of the Firing Range, conducted a detailed inquiry and the inquiry revealed that ‘stray bullets had been flying over the hillock and landing in the village which is about two kilometres from the firing spot’. Thereupon, firing was stopped till further orders and at present no firing practice is conducted at the Firing Range, Maulinguem, Bicholim. He denied that there was negligence on the part of Goa Police Department as all precautionary measures were taken at the Firing Range at the time of firing practice to ensure safety and security of the villagers residing in the surrounding areas.
