TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
MERCES: Is the use of a weapon in an offence a necessary criterion for police to apply an attempt-to-murder charge against an accused in the crime? That is the question residents of St Cruz are asking as the police claim to have investigated the assault on former MLA Victor Gonsalves “to the best of our ability”. Old Goa Police has, however, admitted that the attempt-to-murder charge was not applied in this case, simply because “no weapon” was used in the offence. When asked if a weapon was mandatory to invoke the attempt-to-murder section, since brutal and life-threatening attacks could also take place without a weapon, PI Manoj Mardolkar refused to comment.
Unperturbed by public criticism of their investigation into the assault, police told HERALD that they have “put up a strong case to see that the accused is convicted in court”. PI Mardolkar said, replying to a query, that they could not arrest the accused immediately as he was absconding and denied that the police were aware of his whereabouts. “It was only when the accused applied for anticipatory bail plea in court that the police managed to arrest the accused,” he added, ruling out any political or material influence in the matter.
On allegations that lesser charges were pressed against the accused by keeping out the attempt-to-murder charge, PI Mardolkar said: “The attempt-to-murder charge could not be applied in this case as the accused assaulted the victim with hands and legs and there was no weapon involved.” Investigating officer PSI Sagun Sawant also said a strong case has been made against the accused as the police have collected all evidence and also recorded the statements of two eye-witnesses, whose deposition would be crucial. He said the two-wheeler used by the accused has been attached while the four-wheeler is yet to be attached.
