TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Children’s Court Monday adjourned to February 21 arguments on the petition filed by the father of the seven-year-old Vasco rape victim seeking immediate arrests of the absconding rapist and the school officials for destroying crucial evidences.
The father has accused suspended Headmistress Sharlet Furtado, class teacher Disha Kavathankar and Head Clerk Brazina Godinho of destroying crucial evidences after his daughter was raped.
In their reply to the Court, the Crime Branch and Mormugao Police submitted that medical opinion given by GMC doctors confirmed sexual intercourse. The investigating agencies also said that sincere efforts are being made to trace the identity of the person.
Senior Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha is the Special Public Prosecutor in the case.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues, appearing on behalf of the victim’s father disputed the police submission.
The case had evoked widespread anger against the school, with parents and the civil society coming together to protest. The headmistress was arrested for negligence and destruction of evidence and released on bail thereafter.
The government had come under tremendous pressure to arrest the accused. The Chief Minister said on the floor of the House that the headmistress directed a teacher to clean up the girl after the incident.