One more inmate inflicts self injury

PORVORIM, OCT 28
Yet another inmate injured himself in Mapusa judicial custody on Thursday, the second such incident within a gap of 24 hours.
According to reliable sources, accused Pravin Bhatkande (20) from Anjuna, reportedly cut his hand with a mosquito coil stand, to protest against the ill-treatment in judicial lockup.
He was shifted to Asilo Hospital, Mapusa, and after administering medical treatment, the accused was brought back by the judicial lock-up authorities.
In his statement to the electronic media, Bhatkande has alleged that he was being ill- treated in the judicial lock up. He further claimed that he was not being offered proper food.
“I had some medical problems, but was not permitted to visit the doctor by the authorities. Hence, I was forced to take this extreme step of injuring myself,” claimed Bhatkande.
When contacted, Deputy Collector Dashrath Redker informed that he was not aware that Bhathkande spoke to the electronic media. Redkar further said when he visited the judicial lock up on Thursday morning, he found nothing serious.
“Injuries to Ashpaq Bengre and Amog Naik were caused by a straightened handle of a steel mug, which both used as a knife,” stated Redkar.
Redkar further informed that Bhatkande, who is a good friend of Aspaq Bengre, has been diagnosed by the doctor as mentally unstable, due to which he could have taken this step.
“I am personally monitoring the situation inside the judicial custody and after conducting enquiry into the matter, I will inform about these developments to my superiors,” said Redkar.
Accused Bhatkande is serving sentence in connection with several thefts of electronic items, motorcycles and cash in Anjuna and Siolim. All the cases have been charge sheeted and Bhatkande has kept in the judicial custody.
He is also involved in an attempt to murder case, which has been registered at Panjim. He was wanted by police for a long time and was finally nabbed by Anjuna Police.
Meanwhile, judicial lock up authorities shifted Amog Naik and another five undertrials to Margao judicial custody.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday, when two undertrials, Aspaq Bengre and Amog Naik, were being taken to the court, they clashed with each other and in the process, both sustained injuries. They were treated at Asilo Hospital.