Team Herald
PANJIM: Denying allegations of police brutalities on silent agitators who were demanding justice for Fr Bismarque, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said that he was not against handing over the case to the central agency but wants to give some time for the Crime Branch, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of probing the case.
“I am not against giving the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation as demanded but I want to give Crime Branch some time for investigation. People must understand the case was transferred to Crime Branch only after their demands and hence it would not be right to take away the case from Crime Branch,” Parsekar said at a press briefing at secretariat.
The chief minister further stated, “Again, if I take away the case from Crime Branch people will say I did not give them time.”
The chief minister said there are no unanimity within people who are agitating on the issue.
“First they said they want second autopsy, which we agreed to, second they said the viscera report be expedited and accordingly we have used our good offices to request the same from the Forensic lab, and the report, which normally takes over six months, will be delivered within a fortnight.”
“Also, as demanded the case was handed over to Crime Branch,” the chief minister said.
Asked whether there is any pressure from the Centre regarding the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) issue, he replied in the negative but said “I don’t agree they have right to protest here, the students have no business for agitating in Goa as we are the organisers. They should put up their issues in Delhi and not here.”
