PANAJI
Coming down hard on the Mapusa Police for failing to register a case, despite there being a complaint in the matter, which “prima facie discloses the commission of offences of ‘wrongful confinement’ and ‘voluntarily causing hurt’ under section 342 and 323 of the IPC.
“It is apparent that the Mapusa Police as well as the Women Police Station, Panaji Goa did not carry out investigation in a fair and proper manner. The investigation of this case by the Police in our considered opinion smacks malafide [sic]. Neither the Mapusa Police nor the Women Police Station, Panaji registered a FIR against the persons who were involved in wrongfully confining and assaulting the juvenile…,” the order reads.
In her complaint Suzana de Souza of Childline had alleged that a minor boy had gone to the house of one Maria Trindade as he usually used to, to watch TV. He called out to her, but since there was no response he sat and watched TV.
The complainant alleges that three persons named Sonu, Raju and another man entered the house and hit him brutally and tied his hands and dragged him outside and beat him again and stripped him naked.
Later the owner’s brother came and slapped him twice. Later Maria came and slapped him and asked that his clothes be put on him as her daughter was there.
Later, when the Mapusa police arrived on the scene they also slapped him and asked: “Where is the money?” The child was unaware of any missing money.
The complainant also alleged that, the fact that a complaint was filed against him was not explained to him or his parents but that he was taken to the District Hospital in Mapusa for medical examination and lodged in Apna Ghar as a case of child in conflict with the law and produced before the JJB.
Childline reported the facts to the Mapusa Police and no action was taken.
The Police denied the allegations and said that they only responded to a call and visited the place only to find that a crowd had gathered and that the boy was involved in housebreaking and theft and subsequently Maria Trindade filed a complaint.
