the goan I network
MARGAO
The South Goa police have formed four teams to track down the missing victim girl in the high-profile rape case involving Congress’ Panaji bypoll candidate Babush Monserrate.
Women’s rights activist and Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas has urged the district authorities and the police to bring back the girl.
Sources in the know said the girl had boarded a bus and wanted to head to Vasco on April 28. The conductor of the bus, however, told her that the last stop was Zuarinagar.
Police said the girl alighted after she was told by the conductor about the last stop.
Police sources said the South Goa police are in close contact with their North Goa counterparts as part of the search operation. “Since the girl wanted to head to Vasco, we think she must be still in Goa. She may have been probably looking out for a job,” a police officer said, while exuding confidence of tracing her.
“Our information reveals that the girl was in the habit of going out of the rehabilitation centre and returning. However, when she did not return on April 28, the head of the centre lodged a missing report with the Verna police,” a senior police official said.
Meanwhile, Auda Viegas told The Goan since this was a high-profile case, they were worried about the safety of the girl.
She said the girl was initially with the North Goa Children’s Welfare Committee and later with the South Goa CWC for rehabilitation. “My information reveals that she was doing very well. She was studying some course. She was fine until April 28, the day she went missing,” she said.
“The girl needs a safe home and the authorities should do their bit to find her,” she demanded.
Meanwhile, DIG Paramaditya said police were are trying to trace the girl, but in vain. “She had willingly and with prior permission left the centre with her baggage,” he added.
