TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: John Fernandes, the 19-year-old student of Gaura Vaddo, Calangute, who was brutally attacked in police custody at the Calangute police station, has reportedly identified two of his assailants.
John Fernandes, his mother and a group of residents led by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had called on Superintendent of Police (North) Priyanka Kashyap at Porvorim on Friday afternoon, to enquire about the police department’s response to the shocking incident.
Since SP Kashyap was not in the office, John and the others met DySP Nelson Albuquerque and discussed the issue with him.
Later speaking to reporters outside the police station, John said the Calangute Police had detained him on the basis of a telephonic complaint, while he was on his way to participate in the Carnival parade.
“I was taken to the police station, where the Hawaldars on duty beat me mercilessly in the afternoon. I was detained till late in the evening,” stated John.
“Neither the police inspector nor police sub-inspector were on duty the day the incident occurred. The police inspector was in Panjim,” he said.
“On Friday, three hawaldars were bought to Porvorim police station and were paraded before DySP Albuquerque. I identified two of them,” John added.
John’s mother Delima said that her son had been taken to the police station without her knowledge.
“When I went to the police station to enquire about his detention, I was shocked to see him beaten so badly, as his face and one hand were swollen. I then contacted our relatives for help,” said the mother.
Lobo then told reporters that DySP Albuquerque had assured to submit a report to IGP Sunil Garg for necessary action.
“I will pursue the matter with the IGP and see that the hawaldars involved in assaulting Fernandes are suspended, and on conducting investigations, are dismissed from service.”
“I will also raise the issue in the ensuing assembly session. There should be some responsible police officer at the Calangute police station at all times. The Calangute police station cannot be left in the hands of hawaldars. This is ridiculous,” said Lobo.
When contacted, DySP Albuquerque declined to comment on the matter.
