PANJIM, JAN 18
The deceased NRI’s family members supported by NGO Utt Goenkara on Tuesday requested Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar to raise the issue of the custodial death of Cipriano Fernandes in the forthcoming State Legislative Assembly session.
Utt Goenkara vice-president Jatin Naik told Herald that Parrikar assured them that he will fix up a meeting with the Governor S S Sidhu and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to discuss the matter.
Earlier, the family on Monday requested Goa State Police Complaints Authority (GSPCA) to take cognizance of their complaint and take action against Panjim police into Cipriano’s custodial death.
Chairman Justice Eurico Santana da Silva said that the matter will be looked into after he studies the application.
“…Utt Goenkara today requests your kind self to carry out a thorough investigation into this mysterious death of Cipriano in Panjim Police Station and also demands that till the inquiry about the death in custody is complete, the police personnel who have manhandled the deceased are suspended,” the application to the chairman reads.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cipriano’s cousin brother Cosme Fernandes demanded that Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar, Police Sub Inspectors Radesh Ramnathkar and Vijay Chodankar and Constable Sandip Shirvaikar be suspended as they are responsible for the custodial death.
The family members have refused to accept Cipriano’s body till guilty policemen are punished.
“We will not take over the body till those involved in killing him are punished. Today it has happened to my brother tomorrow it can be yours. He died because of police torture,” Cosme said adding that local masses should support the family to fight justice.
The family members said that their agitation will continue and will knock doors of every authority till policemen who killed Cypriano are punished.
Naik urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to immediately suspend the responsible policemen, for committing serious violation of Human Rights and violation under Article 21 which gives right to life and liberty under the Indian Constitution.
