Team Herald
PANJIM: Senior photojournalist Barnabe Sapeco, was brutally attacked by eight unknown assailants at Sangolda junction in front of a police control room vehicle which he had called for help on Thursday night. Saligao Police have registered an offence and said they are tracing the assailants.
According to Sapeco, he and his wife were driving from Calangute to Panjim when a Honda make car hit his vehicle at Porvorim, after coming from the wrong side and fled. Sapeco’s car was not movable, and a taxi driver gave him a lift after which they managed to stop the other vehicle at Sangolda junction.
Sapeco also rang the Goa Police helpline on 100 and called for help. The PCR vehicle came after 15 minutes.
According to Sapeco the driver of the other vehicle was under the influence of liquor and he called some seven persons who came in a vehicle to the spot and started assaulting him.
The episode was witnessed by PCR NG-13 between 11pm and 11.30 pm, but they didn’t come to his help. “Neither did they stop the assailants from beating me nor did they try to detain them,” Sapeco told Herald.
Saligao Police Inspector Rajesh Kumar said an offence for assault and rioting has been registered against the assailants. “We are trying to trace the assailants based on the registration number of the vehicle mentioned in the complaint,” Kumar said.
However, Porvorim Police have registered an offence against the driver of the vehicle bearing registration number GA 03 H 8482 in the hit and run case. “As no one has come to claim the accident vehicle we have written to Transport Department to furnish the ownership details for further proceedings,” Porvorim PI Jivba Dalvi said. He said the accused will be traced and arrested once details of the vehicle are obtained.
Sapeco said that two other boys who were on a scooter were also hit by the same car and were injured and later shifted to hospital.
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GUJ condemns incident
Goa Union of Journalists and Photojournalist Journalist Association of Goa have condemned the assault on Barnabe Sapeco in front of policemen and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. “We condemn the act of policemen who were on duty and paid a blind eye to the assault and remained silent throughout the incident,” PJAG President Atish Naik said. GUJ Vice President Sandeep Desai said police should investigate the case as to why the car that caused the accident was in a hurry and on the wrong side of the road. “We want a thorough investigation as there is every possibility that the vehicle was involved in carrying illicit material. It could be narcotics or even black money,” Desai alleged.
