SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In what could be a turning point in the Colvale assault case it has now come to the fore that the 72 under-trials, who travelled from Sada Sub-Jail to Colvale Central Jail had drugs mobiles, cigarettes and other materials which was not allowed in the prisons.
Herald investigations have further revealed that the Vasco sub-jail Assistant Superintendent Bhanudas Pednekar escorted the entire contingent of 73 under-trials from Sada to Colvale with all illegal things in their bags.
Investigations have further revealed that the fracas at the Colvale jail started only after these unwanted things were confiscated by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel at the entry point.
Suspended Superintendent Melvyn Vaz confirmed, in an exclusive conversation with Herald, that the drugs and mobiles were indeed found in the under-trials bags. “The under-trials were upset that drugs and mobiles were confiscated from their bags and hence they barged into my cabin and almost tried to assault me after beating the jail guards but thanks to the other staff I was left untouched,” he said.
“On Saturday, October 10, the 73 under-trials most of them Nigerians were being brought to the Colvale jail and the IRB personnel at the entry confiscated things like drugs, mobiles, cigarettes and cash from the bags, which was taken away,” jail guards explained on the condition of anonymity.
Further, they said, at another check point a jail guard started checking the names of the under trials that is when a Nigerian, who was already upset with the seizing of his material, started abusing the jail guard.
“The Nigerian also pulled a lathi from the guard and started beating him black and blue,” they said.
Hearing the noise, they explained, other jail guards went to see what was happening and tried to separate the two but the Nigerian, who is stoutly built beat the other two jail guards with the lathi. “After much effort the injured jail guards were taken to the resident doctor and the entry formalities of other under-trials were being taken in that is when others also started assaulting the jail guards,” jail guards allege that Assistant Superintendent of Sada Jail Bhanudas Pednekar played a mute spectator all this while.
Further, they say, “a message was immediately sent on wireless for more force and the Superintendent of Colvale jail, Melvyn Vaz also moved into his office.
“When the under-trials were uncontrollable after they refused to enter the cell without their belongings a lathi-charge was started,” they said.
Inspector General of Prisons, Elvis Goems has refused to speak anything on the issue saying the investigations is still underway.
“Prima facie I can say assault has taken place and investigation are on to know the exact cause of the incident,” he said.
