Team Herald
PANJIM: The election observer, who was knocked down by an unidentified vehicle during her morning walk in the capital on Friday, underwent head surgery and Panjim police are awaiting the doctor’s nod to record her statement.
Shella Marak, an IAS officer from the North East and posted in Goa for election duty, had been staying at Panjim Residency. She was out for a morning walk at around 7 am when she was caught in an accident between two cars that occurred near the Panjim ferry promenade. She received head injuries and was immediately shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) in Bambolim.
Police sources said they are waiting to record her statement to proceed with the investigation. “She was in the ICU after the operation and is now shifted to the ward. She is recovering, but doctors have not given us the permission to speak to her. We might record her statement in a day or two,” a senior police officer told Herald.
On the day of the accident she was not accompanied by any other person or any personal security. On not finding her at her accomodation, the authorities panicked and her PSO informed the superiors and thereafter it was learnt that she had been admitted in the GMC.
Sources also said that the incident has raised a big question mark on the safety of pedestrians. “If a morning walker is not safe then what kind of a smart city is Panjim?” Goacan convenor Roland Martins, who is also closely monitoring the case, questioned.
He added, “This is a wake-up call. City Corporation of Panaji (CCP), traffic police, PWD and Transport Department need to work together to ensure that safety of pedestrians.”
is a smart city priority in 2019-20, it being the last year of the UN Decade of the Action for Road Safety.”
Panjim police have registered an offence under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.
