Team Herald
PANJIM: About nine foreign prisoners under trial for various offences were allegedly attacked by jail guards at Colvale Correctional Home.
The brutal attack led to a Nigerian national’s hands and feet being stamped on, and head shaven, while another Israeli prisoner reportedly lost his vision in one eye. The matter came to light when the prisoners were produced before the NDPS Court for trial.
On being questioned by the NDPS judge on any ill-treatment meted out to them in the jail, Nigerian national Victor Ubanoze disclosed that not only he, but five others were victims of severe inhuman treatment at the recently commissioned Colvale jail. The Judge immediately ordered the victims be taken for medical checkup and this established bruises on their body.
Advocate Raju Poulekar, representing the undertrials booked for drug-related offences moved the NDPS Court seeking justice and action against the attackers.
“Such inhuman treatment was not expected here. Be it any nationality, all prisoners have their fundamental rights. When the authorities term this jail as reformatory centre, how can such brutality happen?” he said speaking to Herald.
The undertrials were amongst 73 who were transferred from Sada sub-jail to Colvale, after the latter’s commissioning in May. The prisoners have also spoken of the ill-equipped premises that lack proper water and sanitation facilities.
“On October 11, 2015 many undertrial prisoners were assaulted and beaten severely. My head was shaved and I was beaten so badly. Another undertrial prisoner (Ben Nerri) has lost his eyesight. No medical treatment is administered to any of the prisoners and many of them are just left lying on the floors of the jail to languish,” the Nigerian victim of the assault said in a letter to the NDPS Court, a copy of which is in possession of Herald.
Ubanoze also narrated that last Saturday, the jail guards shaved his head, beat him with long sticks and stamped on his hands and feet till he was numb. “I have bruises all over my body,” he said prompting the Court to order medical treatment to the victims.
The lawyers subsequently applied to the jail authorities seeking permission to meet the injured prisoners, which was denied. The matter has now been placed before the court that will come up for hearing on Tuesday.
“The acts of the superintendent (Melvyn Vaz) is in blatant violation of Human Rights as well as the basic fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India,” Advocate Poulekar has said.
“After an incident of such nature it is only just and proper in the eyes of the law that the accused be permitted to meet his legal counsel and seek necessary assistance as well as the legal counsel be permitted to seek instructions so as to enable further action in relation to the issue,” the plea further says. The advocates have also sought permission to carry mobile phones in jail to click photos of the injuries if any.
The accused who have sustained multiple injuries owing to the alleged attack are identified as Paz Abranand, Neria Bendavid, Eden A and Meenash S, all Israeli nationals; Portuguese national Ivan Minguel; Nigerians Monday Felix Odede, Chimenzie Togo, Anthony Chike and Victor Ubanoz.
Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes said he will inquire into the alleged assault.
