TEAM HERALD
[email protected]
PANJIM: A victim of molestation has charged a head constable attached to Panjim police station of being hand-in-gloves with the accused by refusing to take cognizance of her complaints previously.
The 19-year-old student told reporters Saturday that despite several complaints to the Panjim police and control room, Valencio Estrocio was let off with warnings before he was finally arrested on Friday night.
She claimed to be facing the ordeal since February when the 23-year-old began abusing her and her mother, hurling a football at her and once even molested her.
“I have never interfered with him but he has always been torturing my family and instigating the boys at the football ground to abuse me in unbearably filthy language. He even abused me right at my doorstep,” she told reporters.
In her complaint to Sub Divisional Police Officer Umesh Gaonkar, the victim alleged that the head constable always hushed up the matter which would further encourage the alleged accused and his family to abuse her and threaten her of dire consequences.
“Every time the police came to the site, Valencio approached one head constable and squashed the matter…On April 28, when my mother and I were going home, he approached me and molested me..” her complaint states.
Speaking to the media, the 19-year-old blamed the cop ~ Julio Diniz ~ and accused him of putting pressure and settling the issue earlier.
Panjim Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai, when contacted by Herald, said the victim’s statement will be recorded in the presence of an NGO after which action will be decided on the allegations against the head constable. He did not admit to receiving any complaints earlier.
The officer said that Valencio, who is booked for molestation and threatening, has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody even as he has applied for bail.
