TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: RTI activist Jowett D’Souza was hospitalised after he was allegedly beaten by Colva panch member Menino Fernandes and others at a Colva restaurant on Tuesday.
Colva PI Uttam Raut Desai told the media that Menino has been arrested by the police in connection with the incident. He was later released on bail. Jowett is still convalescing at the Hospicio hospital. The incident had occurred at a restaurant at Colva on Tuesday noon when Jowett had gone to pick his food parcel. CCTV footage showed that the duo was involved in heated arguments inside the restaurant. The activist was later rushed to Hospicio where is convalescing. He said that Menino had assaulted him since he was investigating into various cases pertaining to Colva.
Meanwhile, a group of activists led by Judith Almeida called on Colva police on Wednesday morning and demanded justice for Jowett. Judith said that incidents of assault cannot be tolerated in a society, while demanding that the police take the investigations to its logical conclusion.
She also raised questions on the medical report submitted by the Hospicio doctors, demanding to know how the report could state that the activist had only abrasions over his body when he had injuries on the head as well.
Judith also questioned the presence of RDA Minister Mickky Pacheco at the restaurant when the Colva police were conducting panchanama late Tuesday evening. Mickky, however, said he had reached the spot by sheer coincidence when he had gone to drop Menino to his house after the Carnival celebrations at Benaulim. “I had only asked the police to record the statements of the witnesses”, Mickky said, while demanding to know the presence of the activist at the restaurant when the police were conducting the panchanama.
Meanwhile, PI Uttam Raut Desai has said the police have registered a case against Jowett following a counter complaint lodged by Menino, who alleged that the former abused him in filthy language.
