Children’s court grants bail to 8 accused from MP
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The government has instituted a magisterial inquiry into alleged kidnapping of the minor girl at Benaulim which triggered violence by locals at the Colva police station, even as all the eight accused tourists from Madhya Pradesh were ordered to be released on bail by the Goa Children’s Court on Monday.
Additional District Magistrate Sandhya Kamat has been appointed as the inquiry officer by the government, with directions to complete the inquiry within 10-15 days. Following the government’s order, Kamat has initiated the inquiry and is believed to have recorded statements of some persons in connection with the incident.
When contacted, District Magistrate N D Agrawal confirmed that the government has instituted the magisterial inquiry and the same is being conducted by Sandhya Kamat.
The magisterial inquiry comes exactly a week after Benaulim and Colva was rocked by violence over the alleged kidnapping of the minor girl by a group of eight tourists from Madhya Pradesh. Colva police had to fire in the air and lob tear gas shells to disperse a 1,000-strong mob which tried to barge inside the Colva Police station to lay their hands on the accused persons detained inside.
While around five policemen were injured in the incident and three police jeeps damaged, many people had also sustained injuries in the lathi charge at the police station.
Meanwhile, the Goa Children’s Court on Monday ordered the release of all the eight MP tourists on bail arrested in connection with the kidnapping incident. They were ordered to be released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10,000 with one local surety.
