PANJIM: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa raised alarm in the Siolim rape case involving a 10-year-old school girl, after a person came to look for the girl at her residence.
“Yesterday (Sunday) evening, it was reported to AAP Goa that an unidentified person came to the vicinity of the girl’s residence, and was asking about the exact location of her home,” said party ad hoc secretary Valmiki Naik.
He said that it was an attempt to influence the victim and her family to withdraw the police complaint. AAP in the past had said that the police were sloppy in taking action against the accused in the case, allowing him time to apply for anticipatory bail.
“The police appear to continue to be uninterested in either taking the accused into custody or ensuring that the girl and her family are safe during the investigation and prosecution,” he said.
On August 27, the party had filed a request with the SP-North to provide police protection to the girl and her family, “as the accused is still at large and could influence the victim or witness and tamper with evidence”.
They said the Anjuna Police claimed to have not received any instructions from the SP-North and upon request to at least visit the victim’s residence and ensure regular visits to the area by the police patrol van, the Anjuna Police said that the girl’s residence is closer to Colvale and hence falls within Mapusa jurisdiction.
AAP Goa expressed disappointment with the lack of initiative by Anjuna Police in the case, but said they would continue efforts to ensure that justice is served.
