MARGAO
As claims made by a woman that a police sub-inspector made her to lick his boots triggered outrage, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has demanded the immediate suspension of the PSI attached to the Colva police station, alleging that the PSI brutally assaulted the woman before forcing her to lick his shoe.
The Benaulim MLA called on Superintendent of Police, South Sunita Sawant on Tuesday and discussed the matter in the presence of Sub-Divisional Police Officer, DySP Santosh Desai and Colva police station in-charge, PI Satish Padwalkar.
Saying the district police chief has promised to initiate action in the matter, Venzy said the woman accompanied him to the office of the SP, South to lodge her complaint. Pointing out that the incident took place around 10 days ago on the border of Colva and Nuvem, the MLA said he is not concerned what gave rise to the incident, whether any truck was stopped by anyone for extortion or whether someone is a history-sheeter.
“I told the SP, South that I am not debating on the issue about the incident on the border of Colva and Nuvem. I am only concerned about the assault on the lady and the PSI forcing her to lick his shoe to save her husband. Here is a case wherein the police has attacked a woman,” he said, as he demanded to know why there was no Lady PSI or the Pink Police force to handle the woman.
Saying the PSI had no business to brutally attack the woman, Venzy demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, should take cognisance of what is happening around. “I know we have to protect Goemkars. I am not interested in jeopardising the career of any police officer. But, the PSI should have been sensitive to the rights of women,” he said, while demanding strict action and the suspension of the PSI.
PSI transferred; SDPO to probe incident
MARGAO: The police sub-inspector attached to the Colva police station, Vibhinav Shirodkar has been transferred from Colva and asked to report to the South Goa district police headquarters with immediate effect.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai has been appointed as an inquiry officer by Superintendent of Police, South Sunita Sawant to conduct a probe into the allegations of assault against the woman.
DySP Santosh Desai informed that he has been instructed to conduct an inquiry into the incident. He said preliminary inquiry has revealed that the Colva PSI had gone to the spot after receiving a call though the area falls under the Verna police station jurisdiction. “The police team had gone to the spot after receiving a complaint against the husband-wife duo. The inquiry is presently underway,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adv Stanley Rodrigues told the media that the victim woman has formally filed a complaint against the PSI at Margao police headquarters. “For a moment, just leave aside the incident that has taken place at Utorda. What business did the Colva PSI have at Utorda when the area falls in the Verna police station jurisdiction. Secondly, the victim woman was in the custody of the Verna police since 2 am that night when the Supreme Court guidelines bars arrest of women after sunset,” Adv Stanley questioned.
