Team Herald
PANJIM: Twenty-fours have elapsed since the registration of the first information report (FIR) in the Adv Gajanan Sawant attack case; however the cops appear to have developed cold feet in arresting and suspending the accused police officials.
Protesting the brutal assault on the advocate, the lawyers are surprised as to how the police are sitting on an FIR that attracts life imprisonment as punishment and are using the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as shield to protect the accused police.
The police had on Friday registered an FIR and at the same time transferred the case to the Crime Branch for a free and impartial inquiry.
The said order mentioned that the transfer would happen by noon. When the lawyers went to meet the CB PI Suraj Halarnkar, he said he had not received any communication from the SP’s office.
The lawyers were forced to continue their protests.
Adv Vinayak Parab said, “The Crime Branch is playing with the law. This is not a police versus advocate fight. The police are hesitant now they are playing tricks. We will not relent until our demands are fulfilled.”
“SP Crime Branch and SP North Goa is the same. Why is it taking so long for the police to redress our grievance?” Parab asked.
The lawyers said the person, who has assaulted Adv Sawant has criminal antecedents.
“The offence under 307 of the IPC has life imprisonment and police is not serious in taking action,” Vinayak claimed.
Adv Pushparaj Navelkar said, “The manner in which the events are unfolding is unfortunate and deplorable. If the officers of law are facing this, imagine the plight of the common man.”
The lawyers were enraged as the police kept on using the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as a shield and a reason for the delay and also for the inaction. “A false FIR is filed and arrests are delayed. If this continues police will never be trusted in the future,” Navelkar added.
The lawyers said all the persons who have assaulted the advocate and also the ones who have delayed action are equally responsible for the crime.
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AILU Goa State backs lawyers; flays delay in arrest, suspension of cops
The All India Lawyers Union (AILU) Goa State has extended its full support to the lawyers fighting for justice to Adv Gajanan Sawant. It flayed the delay in the arrest and suspension of police officers involved in the attack.
At a meeting held at Azad Maidan in Panjim, Victor Savio Braganza, the Goa head of AILU said, “This is a brutal assault on the judiciary of Goa. He was left at the police station for hours. All this had happened inside the police station.”
“It was the duty of the police to register FIR and arrest. On the contrary, they filed a counter complaint and after pressure by the lawyers, the FIR was filed. If the advocates are facing this imagine the plight of the common man,” he said.
Adv Shankar said, “This is the style of police to compromise and finish the matters. This is a 307 IPC session's trial case and needs custodial investigation with immediate arrest. Until the police arrest and suspend the cops our protests won’t stop.”
Adv Shashank Narvekar said shame on the administration of police. 200 people have to go to the police station to get FIR registered. Citizens may have to face this similar situation where in opposite complaints may be filed and complainant may be asked to compromise.
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In view of PM’s visit, lawyers defer strike for a day
The advocates seeking justice for their colleague Adv Gajanan Sawant and protesting the assault on him at the Crime Branch deferred their strike for a day in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
Vinayak Porob, a criminal lawyer from Mapusa, who is spearheading the agitation, said, “We advocates being learned citizens of the State have decided that since the PM, who is also a constitutional authority is coming to Goa today, we don't want to protest and show Goa in bad light which will bring embarrassment to the State.”
“We have decided to defer the agitation for a day and resume it with double strength on Monday to secure justice for our colleague,” he added.
Porob said the North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan told them that since he was busy with the security arrangements for the PM's visit he will appoint an IO in the matter on Monday.