TEAM HERALD
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PORVORIM: Residents of Bastora barged into the Mapusa police station on Tuesday to demand an explanation for the delay in arresting a motorcycle rider who drove in a rash manner that had led to the death of a woman at Guirim on January 15.
In a memorandum submitted to Deputy Superintendent of Police Serafin Dias, the residents claimed that the motorcycle rider had dashed three pedestrians at Kumya Marod, Guirim, on January 15 at about 5 am.
They claimed that Police Hawaldar Laxman Sawant had visited the hospital to record statement of the injured women on January 15 at 6 pm. However, when two residents, Ajit Torney and Sadanand Kamat, went to the police station to collect the panchanama report, they were shocked to find that panchanama was not prepared by Hawaldar Laxman Sawant.
When contacted, Hawaldar Sawant claimed that he was not aware of the place of accident and the motorcycle number and the rider’s name. Torney then took the Hawaldar to the accident spot.
When Bastora Panch Amit Soyru contacted Mapusa Police on the night of January 16, he was told that they could not prepare the panchanama since the motorcycle rider and the motorcycle was missing.
“Though police were aware of the accident, why was the panchanama not prepared by police on January 15? Such lethargy on the part of police raises suspicion that efforts are deliberately being made to delay the panchanama,” stated the memorandum.
Speaking to press persons, the residents stated that a minor boy was riding the bullet motorcycle (GA-03-Q-9750).
Sujata S Kandolker (49), who had sustained grievous injuries in the mishap, died on Tuesday.
DySP Dias has assured the residents that he would conduct an enquiry and take necessary action in the matter.
