Team Herald
PANJIM: Director General of Police Muktesh Chander has ordered an inquiry into the assault on a football fan at Nehru stadium last Thursday and assured action against guilty police personnel.
His instruction to Margao Sub Divisional Police Officer comes in response to a petition by Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYCC) demanding justice for the victim family. The SDPO is asked to submit the report within two days based on which action will be initiated.
“SDPO Margao is conducting the enquiry. Criminal and departmental action as revealed in the enquiry will be taken against the culprit police officers,” the DGP told Herald.
Congress’ youth wing met the DGP on Tuesday demanding a thorough inquiry into inhuman manner in which the local police treated Lester and his family. The Fatorda police had also arrested Lester and his parents, though they were bailed out later.
“Lester was dragged onto the football field where he was repeatedly and mercilessly assaulted with fist blows to his neck, abdomen and back and all over his body until he dropped to the ground, unconscious. This unfortunate incident took place right in front of the crowd and the videos captured on the mobile phones have gone viral. Lester was neither a terrorist nor a goonda to be treated so inhumanly by using the excessive force that too in front of huge crowd,” a memorandum submitted to Chander said. The police chief, according to the GPYCC has also condemned the brutal assault and assured action before the next ISL match on November 22.
The incident happened when Lester and his parents tried to click photographs of the players at the stadium, after the match concluded between FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos. They were stopped by the ISL appointed security guards and the police, and were allegedly assaulted by the police thereafter.
The youth wing led by President Varad Mardolkar alleged that besides physical injuries, the family is suffering mental torture and humiliation owing to the ‘inhuman treatment’ meted out by the police. As such, the GPYCC has demanded thorough inquiry into the entire episode. “Those involved and guilty should face action as per the law failing which grave injustice will be caused to the D’Souza family and Goans at large,” the memorandum further states.
Several activists and groups have come forward demanding justice for the D’Souza family citing that the local police should have handled the matter sensitively. There is also a growing demand to book the police involved in the incident.
