This horrific incident is over a year old and there’s still no sign of the Mapusa police chargesheeting the identified culprits. The single mother of a Class III student, who was mercilessly thrashed by Sonabai, Jorge Sasve and his wife Bharti Sasve with chili powder stuffed in her genitals, is waiting for justice.
A few months after the incident, the survivor shifted to a rented apartment at Mapusa where she took up a job to look after an elderly destitute. “The accused were bailed out soon after the arrest. I don’t want to face them because it reminds me of the ordeal. This is the main reason why I shifted to Mapusa where I also took up a job,” she said speaking to Herald.
As her daughter’s school is also located a few meters away, the victim is satisfied that her child is not at any safety risk. Even thought she has taken up a job in Mapusa, she ensures she visits her house – where her neighbours assaulted her – at least once every four-to-eight days.
But as her contract with the ‘care centre’ – name of which she does not recollect – comes to an end on October 1, the woman has no option but to return to her vacated home. The vulnerable woman fears being assaulted again even as she foresees struggling to make ends meet. “I am looking out for another job,” she said adding, “I don’t want to leave my child with anyone. I fear for her safety too.”
While she undergoes a tough life, the accused are roaming free with Mapusa police dragging its feet to chargesheet the case. Former PI Tushar Vernekar, whose failure to curb repeated crimes in his jurisdiction showed his laxity in investigating this case too. Had Herald not initiated a campaign, the then Mapusa police would not have bothered to take action against assistant sub inspector Vithu Naik who tried to bury the case, not register an FIR and delay arresting the trio.
The change in guard, a couple of weeks ago has shone a ray of hope with PI Tushar Lotlikar assuring to file the chargesheet case in the next two weeks.
