PANJIM: While the Valpoi Police acted swiftly and solved the petroleum pump attendant assault case within 24 hours but what about the assault complaint filed by the son of the soil- a farmer who was allegedly brutally assaulted by cops at the Valpoi Police Station on March 11, 2022 and till date there has been no action taken against them and that they continue to join duty and roam freely. Shockingly, the same PI Phadte, who made the arrest, faces a complaint of brutally assaulting in custody, farmer leader Hanumanth Parab
On July 24-25, two persons were arrested in connection with an assault on a staffer at the petrol pump in Honda-Sattari on Sunday evening, after angry locals marched to the police station to demand the arrest of the accused. The accused were identified – two youth Qadar Sheikh and Sheikh Salim Chorat, both residents of Penha de Franca on the charge of assaulting a petrol pump attendant at Honda.
Assaulters of petrol pump attendant (rightly) arrested in 24 hours.
Some youth are alleged to have assaulted an employee at a petrol pump at Honda and fled after locals rushed in support of the employees.
Locals and pump employees then rushed to the Honda police post to demand the arrest of the accused. As tension began to mount, a police team was rushed to Honda and Valpoi Police Inspector Prajyot Phadte tried to pacify the agitated locals and pump employees, who warned that they would not leave the police outpost till the accused were arrested. Two persons were later arrested in this connection and were later taken to the Valpoi Police Station.
On March 11 The same Valpoi Police mercilessly thrashed farmer leader Hanumanth Parab for protesting against illegal pore transportation. The cops roam free
Herald spoke to Hanumanth Parab and he congratulated the Valpoi Police for their swift response and for giving justice to the hard-working petrol pump attendants at Honda. He said, “Such violence should not be tolerated in our village.”
But then he lamented that he was brutally beaten and critically injured by the same cops and said, “On one hand I’m happy that those young boys justice, but why not me?”
He recalled how he was beaten non-stop for 25 mins, first the DySP hit him then it was the PI, wherein the DySP Ekoskar told the PI, “Why are you just looking, hit him.” Parab said he was also not taken for medical examination even when he was bleeding. Parab said that he has filed a complaint, but the FIR has still not been lodged. Almost nothing has been heard of the police inquiry against the cops which was ordered.
On April 24, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) asked the Chief Secretary, Goa to take action on the representation made by Floyd Coutinho, a Margao resident against former PI of Maina Curtorim Police Station and current DySP Sagar Ekoskar and others in an alleged harassment case with intent to extort.
When asked what he is going to do now, he said that he will continue to fight for justice and fight for the farmers. Soon the farmers from Pissurlem will come back to the streets against the injustice and their demands.
