Consulate terms incidents as ‘regrettable’
CALANGUTE, JAN 19
Calangute Police on Wednesday arrested Prakash Chand Jain (49) from Bhopal in connection with the molestation of a Russian tourist.
Acting in unusual swiftness, the police charge-sheeted Jain before the Mapusa JMFC court, barely hours after his arrest.
According to Calangute Police, Jain was arrested following a complaint by the 25-year-old Russian woman who stated that she was molested at Baga beach on Tuesday evening.
The police examined seven witnesses in the case and the victim also identified the accused during an identification parade.
A medical examination had also confirmed that the victim had injuries on her body.
The accused is now in judicial custody, police said.
It may be recalled that the Russian woman was swimming in the waters along with her friends at Baga Beach, when the accused allegedly molested her in the sea.
Following an alarm by the victim, the accused was assaulted by the locals and later handed over to Calangute Police.
PANJIM REPORTER ADDS: Raising concern over the two cases of molestation against its citizens, Russian Consulate termed the incidents as ‘regrettable’.
“The matter of two Russian girls being molested in Goa within a short span of ten days is regrettable. I hope that the Goa Police can take prompt action to ensure the safety of Russian tourists visiting Goa,” Vikram Varma, lawyer representing Russian Consulate, told Herald.
On January 9, a 23-year-old Russian woman was allegedly molested by a 20-year-old youth from Andhra Pradesh at the Arambol beach. Accused Sai Kiran was arrested soon after a case was registered at Pernem police station.
In a span of ten days on January 18, another Russian tourist was allegedly molested by a tourist from Bhopal. The 25-year-old victim was swimming in the beach waters when accused Prakash Chand Jain (49) molested her. He was thrashed by an angry mob and later handed over to the police.
The attacks on foreign tourists have continued to tarnish the image of the State.