PANJIM, MARCH 8
The Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW) has asked Goa police to ensure that female lock-ups are made ‘livable’ for those arrested or detained even if it is for few hours or days.
The suggestion comes after the commission members headed by Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco in a surprise visit at Bicholim police station found that the female lock up was in bad condition.
In its recommendation, it asked to immediately carry out a major overhaul of the prison.
The commission members visited the police station while inquiring into the alleged torture and humiliation meted out to Bicholim resident Geeta Pednekar in the police custody in January.
“During our visits to Bicholim police station we discovered that the female lock-up is not in proper condition after which we prepared recommendations to revamp the structure. The renovations are being done as per updates to the commission,” Sapeco said.
The GSCW Chairperson Sapeco, who had several personal trips to Bicholim, has initiated inquiry into the ‘police atrocities’.
The 29-year-old Geeta had alleged that three lady constables and a police sub-inspector Valke dragged her and dumped in the police jeep.
She was picked up by the Bicholim police on January 1 evening after a complaint by her paternal aunt’s daughter Suman Shirodkar alias Anjali Agarwadekar and her husband Arvind Agarwadekar that the former beat Suman, over the issue of disputed property.
Sources said, when Geeta, Suman and her aunt, who is a senior citizen were jailed following complaints over the family dispute, they were kept in the cell and later among males in the police station.
When the Commission was informed, it immediately convened a meeting with senior police officers suggesting to improve jail conditions for female prisoners.
