TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa police, who are attempting an image makeover due to poor public perception, have ordered an enquiry into the alleged merciless and brutal assault on the 19-year-old, by Calangute police. Officials say that the report is expected Friday (today).
The family had met IGP Sunil Garg on Wednesday to demand action against policemen who allegedly assaulted the youth in a women’s cell of the police station. After assaulting the boy, the police refused to release him unless his mother signed on a paper on which was purportedly written that her son John Fernandes was assaulted by local youth.
Four constables allegedly assaulted and intimidated the youth, John, to extract confession of a theft in a guesthouse, when there was not even a complaint filed against him.
Calangute locals who claim to have helped the mother to approach the police brass in this case said that DySP Nelson Albuquerque had promised them that he would take action against the police personnel within two days.
They also denied that there were attempts by local panch Joseph Sequeira to hush up the case by offering the family money. They said that as the family was poor and had sought assistance for medical treatment, Sequeira had given the family money for medical expenses and along with the boy’s neighbours was supporting the case.
Agnelo Fernandes, Congress General Secretary reacting to the case said, “The (Congress) Party strongly condemns such acts of the police and demands that the government take strict action against all those police officers involved in the act. We also demand that the police be made to pay hefty compensation to the victim’s family, since he will be unable to write his HSSC examinations which start on March 2.”
Legal advice suggests that compensation of at least Rs 25 lakh is in order for the youth missing out on a whole academic year, for assault and personal trauma; and shame and trauma caused to the family.
