TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Her excruciating bruises have almost healed over three months after she was shamelessly dragged by the roadside in Bicholim, stripped naked and beaten mercilessly by a Goa police constable, in full public view, but the pain of living it all will always remain.
More than the wounds it is the torture and public humiliation that has indeed left the worst scar on the psyche of 70-year-old Abida Beig, who often wakes up with nightmares that she would fall prey to her cruel tormentor –suspended constable Amjad Karol.
Sisters of Missionaries of Charity old-age home have left no stone unturned to ensure the destitute recovers from the ghastly trauma. According to her well wisher her physical health has improved tremendously, but she is yet to psychologically overcome the traumatic incident.
She has been able to speak although her speech is not wholly clear. Though the Mother Theresa’s sisters have taken responsibility for her wellbeing, sources said, she has been found with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
In March, the drunken constable subjected her to physical cruelty for no fault of her’s and abandoned her to the mercy of others. The assault left her with a broken jaw and she sustained deep lacerations on her back and hands. “She was abandoned, spent nearly 25 days in the Goa Medical College and Hospital and now presently housed at the charity home. The whole experience has been awful for her,” the well wisher stated.
Her assaulter was subsequently suspended and Goa State Human Rights Commission also began an inquiry taking suo motu cognizance based on the extent of the brutality. After the public outcry, Bicholim police too slapped attempted murder charge against the constable and arrested him. Speaking to Herald, PI Rupendra Shetgaonkar assured to charge sheet the case within a week’s time though the accused was bailed out a fortnight ago.
NGO Bailancho Saad has been keeping an update on her health status but unfortunately there has been no trace of her family members till now. Dr Sabina Martins said that Beig has made good improvement in her food intake. Until some weeks ago, the weak and feeble woman was on liquid diet and was fed through a tube.
Even though Beig is recovering, she is confined to a wheel chair most of the time, and has to be assisted while having bath and put to bed. “Her diet is being taken care of,” Martins said.
