PANJIM: Director General of Police Indra Dev Shukla has ordered an inquiry into a brutal attack on farmers during their protest in the mining belt of Pissurlem by the Valpoi police while the farmers were trying to get their farms free of mining dumps.
Protest leader Hanumanth Parab was allegedly assaulted by the police. He accused the police led by DySP Sagar Ekoskar of attacking, arresting and beating him badly.
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Although there was no complaint filed until Monday evening, DGP Shukla ordered an inquiry based on an internal report and media reports. “I have asked North Superintendent of Police (Nidhin Valsan, holding additional charge) to inquire into the episode,” he said, when contacted by Herald about action initiated by the department.
The officer along with his team had visited the spot to ascertain facts.
According to the farmers, Valpoi police on Friday allegedly assaulted and arrested those who were waiting for the Mamlatdar at a mine in Pissurlem to register their protest against the transportation and dumping of iron ore on their fields without following the High Court directives. The farmers had submitted several memoranda to the Deputy Collector and the Valpoi Mamlatdar but till date, there has been no action.
In the past too Ekoskar has been in the news for the wrong reason. Besides the current allegation, he has been embroiled in a series of controversies including the one at Melauli where locals opposed the IIT project, assault on ex-sarpanch, etc.
