VASCO: Mining activist and Caurem panch Ravindra Velip on Friday lodged a complaint at Mormugao Police Station alleging that the jail superintendent, prison officials, an MLA, owners of a mining firm and others hatched a criminal conspiracy against him and attempted to murder him in the premises of Sada sub jail on Wednesday night.
Vasco DySP and SDPO Sucheta Dessai said the complaint was inwarded to Mormugao Police Station around 7pm on Friday.
“We received his complaint in the evening and as he has made accusations against the jail authorities as well as MLAs and even owners of a mining company with the claims that there was attempted murder on him in the jail premises. We have forwarded his complaint copy, along with our note to jail authorities at Sada sub jail to seek their comments. We have also asked for CCTV footage from the jail authorities as Velip has made allegations that he was assaulted inside the jail,” she said. “FIR will be lodged only after verifying the facts,” she added.
In a three-page complaint, Velip alleged that on Wednesday when he was lodged at Sada sub jail, he was assaulted by at least four persons who were wearing shoes like those the jail guards wore. He mentioned that although he did not see anyone while he was being assaulted he suspects the involvement of jail officials, and so did not reveal anything to the jail authorities at first.
After he got bail, but before leaving the jail, he narrated the incident to the jailor who, Velip says, threatened him and even refused to provide him medical aid besides advising him not to speak about the assault outside the jail.
