PANJIM: Revenue Minister Antanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Thursday said that the legal process has started with hearings into the infamous alleged Panjim police station attack case reported in February 2008.
“It’s a legal process which has started now. Let it start,” Monserrate said when asked for his reaction to the complainant identifying him and others who had led the morcha to the police station during the trial.
On Tuesday, Monserrate and five others were identified by complainant — the then PSI Tushar Lotlikar during the hearing. Monserrate was also present in the court.
Of the 36 accused, one of the accused has been declared absconder while, another accused died since.
According to the prosecution, on February 19, 2008, Monserrate had led a morcha to the police station demanding the release of a youth arrested in an assault case. But the unruly mob suddenly became violent and pelted stones at the police station, injured police personnel and set afire to a two-wheeler. As the situation was going out of control, the police lathicharged the mob, used three tear gas shells and then two PSIs fired three round each in the air to disperse the crowd.
The chargesheet against the accused was filed in 2014 and Adv Aires Rodrigues approached the High Court seeking speedy trial in the Panjim police station attack case.
The next hearing is fixed on Tuesday, October 18.
