MARGAO
Goa police higher-ups have late Thursday evening placed PSI Stanley Gomes, attached to the Margao police station, under suspension for allegedly assaulting a youth from Navelim Wednesday night, leaving the victim’s ear damaged.
The suspension order was reportedly issued by the DIG office, with a direction that the suspended officer should report to the Goa Reserve Police.
The suspension has capped hectic developments throughout Thursday when relatives of the victim Edwin Coelho, a resident of Navelim, and lawyer Adv Seoula Vas were closeted with Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Margao DySP Harish Madkaikar and acting Margao PI Kapil Nayak demanding registration of FIR against PSI Stanley.
The victim alleged that on November 23, 2021, around midnight, the PSI assaulted him within the precincts of the police station by slapping him viciously at least four times on his face resulting in bleeding from the ear, hearing loss and rupturing of the eardrum.
He stated that the PSI assaulted him when he was taking a photo at the police station where he had gone along with a person to lodge a complaint.
Speaking to the media, Adv Seoula said that FIR ought to be registered for offences of criminal intimidation, using criminal force, causing grievous hurt and assault without provocation. She said the medical report proves grievous hurt which carries a punishment of 7 years imprisonment.
Adv Seoula added: “Police officers cannot act with impunity and the law must be equal for all. We need to send out a message that police stations are safe for people. At a time when abuse of power, custodial torture and even death have become an epidemic in the country, it is in the interest of justice that this FIR should be registered.”
