PANJIM: The Home Department has now written to the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit an action taken report in connection with the assault of Hanumant Parab by DySP Sagar Ekoskar at the Valpoi Police Station in May this year.
This is after the President of India and the Prime Minister’s office have sent Parab’s representation back to the State government seeking action and keeping these high offices informed.
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But Ekoskar, who according to Parab, brutally and mercilessly assaulted him in police custody in the Valpoi Police Station, following his protest against the movement of mining trucks in Pissurlem, seems to be under State protection.
In a letter to the DGP, the Home Department has stated that it has received from the section officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, representation made by Hanumant Parab about the alleged assault by the DySP Ekoskar.
The incident occurred on March 11 this year when Parab along with 150 farmers from Pissurlem village was protesting against the immense problem of siltation of cultivable fields and loss of their water bodies ravaged by the illegal mining carried out in the village.
But the police called Parab at the Valpoi Police Station where he was allegedly assaulted by DySP Sagar Ekoskar and two others.
During the last hearing on August 3, the High Court had sought to know whether State Police Complaints Authority (SPDA), which is hearing one of Parab’s numerous complaints to different authorities, for justice, is functional and has posted the matter for further hearing on August 29.
The DGP has been asked to submit an action taken report to the Home Department at the earliest.
Parab had earlier addressed his representation to the President, the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister after which the PMO wrote to the Chief Secretary.
Parab has also filed a writ petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa seeking directions to the DGP to conduct an investigation in terms of the complaint dated March 13, 2022 and addressed to the DGP and SP against DySP Ekoskar and PI Prajyot Phadte and also a direction to the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry based on the complaint as well as a letter dated June 2, 2022, received from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Parab approached the High Court after the DGP failed to conduct an inquiry and initiate action against the erring officers. He said DGP I D Shukla had told media that the SP North would conduct an inquiry, but nothing happened, and Shukla retired in March this year.
Parab has also knocked on the doors of the High Court and yet again that is his strongest hope against whom he calls “rogue cops” who clearly appear to be under State protection.
