PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday said he is open to an independent inquiry into the Sada sub-jail assault case.
“I am waiting for a report from Inspector General of Prisons, which is expected by Monday and thereafter I will decide on the future course of action,” he said.
The opposition, as well as green groups in Goa, on Friday, rallied behind anti-illegal mining activist Ravindra Velip who was allegedly assaulted while in judicial custody, even as a BJP MLA denied any involvement in the attack.
Velip, a resident of Caurem-Pirla, was arrested on March 22 under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 341 (wrongful restraint) for blocking transportation of iron ore e-auctioned by the State government to a private trading company some months back.
However, the CM says he will wait for the IG prisons report before commenting or ordering an impartial inquiry. “Allegations do not mean anything. Let me get the report first,” Parsekar said.
On Friday, NGO Goa Foundation, whose petition in the Supreme Court resulted in a two-and-a-half-year ban on mining in the State, demanded a probe by the Inspector General of Prisons on Wednesday’s assault and urged for a probe by the Human Rights Commission.
“The Goa Foundation denounces the attack within the jail premises on Ravindra Velip, who hails from the tribal community, and demands an inquiry from the IGP Prisons as to how unauthorised people could have entered the premises, blindfolded Velip and beat him up mercilessly,” Claude Alvares, who heads the Foundation, told the media.
The activist claims that he along with his associates was arrested after they questioned the veracity of the iron ore consignment passing through his village.
On Wednesday, Velip suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries after he was assaulted by unknown persons in the Sada sub-jail.
The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry into the assault, while local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Subhash Phaldesai from Sanguem constituency denied involvement in the incident.
