TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Additional Collector, who investigated into the notorious history-sheeter Michael Fernandes’ escape from the Aguada jail, has in his magisterial inquiry report recommended to Goa government that the long pending Colvale jail project should be completed on a war footing, as there is no scope for any structural changes at Aguada Central Jail.
The inquiry officer Dipak Desai was empowered by the government to conduct an inquiry into Michael’s escape in October even as he was nabbed and lodged back in the same Jail.
“The (work on the) jail at Colvale has to be taken up on a war footing as the scope to carry out any improvements at Aguada (jail) would be huge and time consuming as well,” he said in the report, which was submitted to the government over a week ago.
The officer further opined that the Portuguese-era structure is not fit to be used as a jail. “…the present status of the structure of Central jail Aguada is not at all fit to be used as a jail or any kind of custody of prisoners. As there is no scope to renovate, make structural changes, since it a heritage structure,” he stated.
Desai mentioned that a magisterial inquiry into the food poisoning incident halfway through the year had clearly detailed the need for structural changes or alternatively to hasten things to finalize the upcoming jail at Colvale.
One of its suggestions to ensure that such escapes do not reoccur, the officer has insisted that jail officials should be sent for fitness training at Goa Police Training Centre in Valpoi. As an interim measure, the gates, doors and protected nets of the walkway from the main gate of the jail premises should be immediately repaired and high rise walks be provided with barbed wire fencing to prevent any escapes.
Michael had escaped from the jail in broad day light on October 15 when he was brought to the jail by four police personnel after a court appearance. He scaled the jail wall facing the sea, jumped out of the window and fled into the thickly forested Aguada hillock.
The inquiry had recorded statements of jail officials and prisoners and suggested action against two jail officials and sought an inquiry by police department against police escort team for their alleged nexus in the escape.
