TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa-com
MARGAO: The South Goa Sessions court on Monday ordered framing of criminal charges against Sports Minister, Ramesh Tawadkar, UTAA Chief Prakash Velip, former Sanguem MLA Meng Gaonkar and six others in the May 25, 2011 Balli riots case.
The court, however, has discharged Chairman of Goa Law Commission, Narendra Sawaikar and 11 others in the case for want of evidence.
Additional Sessions Judge, Vandana Tendulkar pronounced her order in the Sessions court on Monday noon, directing framing of charges against the nine UTAA leaders under various provisions of the IPC. They were, however, discharged from the provisions of the Indian Railway Act.
In her order, Judge Tendulkar observed that material on record so far is prima facie insufficient to identify either the agitators with their actual acts or their miscreants, if any.
The Judge, however, said there is prima facie material available only against accused Prakash Shankar Velip, Ramesh Tawadkar, Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, Govind Gawde, Prakash Arjun Velip, Vikas Daykar, Mallu Thulo Velip, Soyru Govind G Velip and Savita Ramesh Tawadkar ~ prominent members of the UTAA organisation ~ being present at the site to block the national highway, which had resulted in violent acts of damage to public property with fire.
The Judge further observed that statement of witnesses makes it appear that besides the agitators, some other miscreants have also taken part in the damage of the government property and vehicles at the time of agitation.
While discharging the nine accused under the Railway Act, Judge Tendulkar said none of the agitators have been identified by the prosecution witnesses.
Moreover, the Judge said that no test identification parade was conducted to prove the identity of the accused persons. “There’s nothing to prove the presence of the accused at the railway track during the entire agitation,” the Judge said.
The prosecution had charged 21 persons, including the top UTAA leadership for the large-scale violence at Balli junction on the NH-17 and destruction of railway property at Balli railway station on May 25, 2011. The UTAA agitators were protesting in support of the 12-point charter of demands after they assembled at the Achal Bhavan in the morning of May 25. While one group went towards the Balli railway station, another group proceeded to the Balli four road junction to block the highway.
In the resultant violence, SP Tony Fernandes and DySP Deu Benaulikar, besides Quepem Mamlatdar Derrick Natu along with policemen were injured in the violence. The violence later took a tragic turn when two UTAA activists were burnt alive at Achal Bhavan after the building was set on fire by miscreants who are now facing trial for offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
