PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has issued notices to the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Superintendent of Police (North) in connection with a complaint alleging custodial violence against an accused and intimidation of a practising advocate.
The Commission has directed both officers to appear before it, either in person or through an authorised representative, on August 7 at 10.30 am. The notices are returnable on the same day.
Advocate Rifad Ballari has complained against Panaji Police Inspector Vijaykumar Chodankar and a police sub-inspector among others, alleging that her brother was assaulted while in police custody and that she was threatened and prevented from performing her duties as a lawyer.
In her complaint, Ballari said she had visited the Panaji police station after learning through a local news channel that her brother, Javed Ballari, was arrested. She claimed that during her first visit, her brother told her he was falsely implicated in the case.
Later that evening, when she returned to inquire about the remand proceedings, the advocate alleged that she found her brother inside the PI’s cabin with his lips discoloured. She also alleged to have seen the PI slapping her brother in the presence of other police personnel.
She further alleged that after objecting to the assault, she was pushed out of the cabin by police personnel, including woman personnel, and was threatened while attempting to discharge her professional responsibilities as an advocate.
