TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: CBI court Judge P V Savaiker framed charges against Santa Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate, his wife Jennifer and 35 others for attack, unlawful assembly, rioting armed with deadly weapons, wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means and voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty (sections 143, 147, 148, 153, 324, 325, 326, 332, 343, 427 and 435 of Indian Penal Code) and section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act for the attack on Panjim police station and directed all the accused to furnish personal bond of Rs 5000 each.
The judge has fixed November 19, 2014 for further arguments.
The CBI had submitted the chargesheet last year before the Court alleging that that due to the ‘inflammatory, inciting and provocative speech of the then Taleigao MLA Atanasio Monserrate the ‘unlawful assembly’ became violent and injured the police and damaged the police station on February 19, 2008.
The chargesheet had been filed by CBI under sections 143, 147, 148, 153, 324, 325, 326, 332, 343, 427 and 435 of Indian Penal Code and section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Monserrate and others had challenged the chargesheet stating that the allegations are untenable. The arguments on this matter from both the sides were completed on 18th July 2014 and the verdict was to be fixed on August 13, 2014 which was later postponed to September 12, 2014 and then to October 31, 2014.
Monserrate and his wife Jennifer and other accused were present in the court.
When – February 19, 2008
Where – Outside the Panjim police station
Who – MLA Atanasio Babush Monserrate and others
What – Babush and his group gather outside the police station to protest the detention of a couple of his supporters. The crowd walks from Taleigao to Panjim.
Sudden stone throwing from the back of the crowd takes all by surprise and the crowd charges towards the police station. In the melee, police including women constables were hurt and the police station suffered severe damage. The police retaliated by a cane-charge and later raided Monserrate’s house. His son, wife and the MLA himself were arrested
