Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda Police arrested prime accused and history-sheeter Agnelo Fernandis (37) also known as Veerapan from Vizar Panchwadi in connection with assault on social activist and Progressive Front Goa leader Adv Hridaynath Shirodkar, on Saturday.
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Meanwhile, his wife and accomplice Prista Fernandes and Bruno Souza involved in the assault are absconding against whom offence is registered. The complainant had given name of above accused to the police. Beside, these three, the police also registered an offence against three unknown persons into the case.
Accused arrested Agnelo is booked under various Sections of Indian Penal Code 323,504,506(ii) r.w.149, which includes hurting besides threatening with dire consequences and unlawful assembly.
Earlier, the case was registered as an non cognizable offence under Section 323 of IPC but later police converted it and registered as cognizable offence.
Accused is also booked under Section 188, 269 for lockdown violations and removing mask of the victim.
Further investigation is conducted by Police Sub Inspector Abinav Shirodkar.
Hridaynath had filed a written complaint against the above three for assaulting him with fists and kicks when he had gone to attend a meeting at Panchawadi, Shiroda.
Hridaynath had alleged in the complaint that Agnelo took stone to hit him but one local rushed and pushed Agnelo to save him from hitting the stone. The organiser of the meeting Vinod Borkar was also assaulted by the accused.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media persons Progressive Front of Goa leader said, “I am involved in lot of social activities including Save Mhadei Water and Save Mollem agitation and this attack on me would not deter me from doing social work. I am not coward to step back. My social activities would continue.”
He said, “It was well planned attack.”
“I have no much hope from the government but as a administrative duty the Goa Police should find out the mastermind behind the attack as it appeared a well-planned attack. I have continuously raised some major issues concerning Goans these days,” Hridaynath said.
“I was invited to speak on various problems caused during the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment and other issues. When I was discussing it with the organiser all the accused suddenly started assaulting me. The organiser Vinod Borkar was also assaulted in the police presence. Luckily, a 50-year-old local, pushed Agnelo when he was about to hit me with big stone and thus I survived,” revealed Hridaynath.
