the goan I network
MARGAO
Women’s rights activists and the Mahila Congress have demanded stern action in the Chinchinim assault case over what they termed as a brutal assault on the women, including the minor daughter of one of the victims.
While activist Tara Kerkar and Mahila Congress chief Pratima Coutinho called on the district Police chief, SP Arvind Gawas to demand stern action against the assailants for the brutal assault on the women, activist Auda Viegas demanded that the police should deal with the accused in a manner that they do not indulge in law of the jungle and against the human dignity of women.
SP Gawas gave the delegation of Tara Kerkar and Pratima Coutinho a patient hearing and explained the action initiated by the police till date. He also told the delegation that the police will take steps to ensure that the incident does not recur again.
Kerkar, however, insisted that the Police should invoke the attempt to murder section when the accused was allegedly seen trying to assault the women with koita and danda. “What we saw on the social media made us for a moment wonder whether we are in Goa or in Bihar. Such violence against women is unacceptable. We are not interested in the property dispute. The police should invoke stringent section against the accused,” Tara demanded.
Activist Auda Viegas added: “It amounts to molestation since the assault was on the parts of the women. The use of koita and dandas are an attempt to kill. Attacking a minor means it attracts the provision of the Goa Children’s Act and the POSCO Act for molestation and causing trauma to her young mind.”
Assault incident a dispute over
ownership of house: DySP
MARGAO: Margao Sub-Divisional Police Officer, DySP Serafino Dias has attributed the assault incident at Chinchinim to a dispute over the ownership of house following the death of the owner, Marie Fernandes.
Dias further pointed out that the Cuncolim police has invoked the Goa Children’s Act and has arrested Cypriano Costa in connection with the assault on the women, including the minor daughter of Felix Fernandes. “Preliminary inquiry conducted by the Cuncolim Police revealed that the house belonged to one Marie Fernandes, who died in 2000. A maid who was looking after Marie expired in 2013. A family from Panchwadi-Ponda has claimed that they are related to Marie and being her cousins, their names are now being shown in Form I &XIV,” DySP Serafino said.
He pointed out that John Philip Costa lodged his complaint with the Cuncolim police that someone has trespassed and is staying in the house. Based on John’s complaint, the Cuncolim police called Felix Fernandes to the police station with the ownership documents. Felix, however, refused to come on the first day. Since there was no sign of Felix, he was called again, but he came without the property documents.
In the meantime, DySP Serafino said when John Philip Costa, who had gone to the house, arguments ensued between the two parties before the assault incident took place. “The Cuncolim police have arrested Cypriano Costa, the son of John Philip Costa. The police have recovered the weapons of assault from Cypriano,” he said, the Cuncolim police are investigating the case since the police has received a complaint and a counter complaint in the case.
