the goan I network
MARGAO
The Goa police have arrested the accused allegedly involved in the kidnapping of the 13-year old minor school girl, with Superintendent of Police, South Arvind Gawas stating that the accused abandoned the victim on the Ambaulim hillock after sexually assaulting her on
Wednesday.
The accused Melvyn Fernandes (23), a resident of Sao Jose de Areal, was arrested by the police late Wednesday night from his residence, after the police zeroed in on him. Fernandes was known to the victim’s family. The victim girl is presently undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim.
“Upon thorough interrogation and confrontation with evidence collected by the team, the accused confessed to having kidnapped the minor girl after school hours and taken her to Ambaulim hillock on his scooter. As she resisted his attempts to kiss and was not cooperating, the accused assaulted her with slaps and banged her head on the ground and also sexually assaulted her. As the victim became unconscious, he abandoned her and fled from the scene of the crime,” SP Gawas said.
The district police chief said that after the Maina Curtorim police received information that the minor girl was kidnapped from the lawful guardianship of her parents at around 1.30 pm on Wednesday, the police launched a massive search operation in and around the place where she was last seen to trace the kidnapped girl.
“We had verified the movements of all suspects in the vicinity and near the victim’s house. Also movements of her friends and acquaintances were checked. After strenuous efforts, the police team zeroed down on one of her acquaintances, namely Melvyn Fernandes, who also known to the family of the victim,” he said, adding that the police has succeeded in resolving the sensational case within 12 hours.
A seaman by occupation, the accused has been remanded to 10 days police custody. The police has attached the scooter used in the crime. Based on the medical examination report, section 307, 376 of IPC and section 4 of POCSO Act has been invoked in the case.
Further investigations in the case are being conducted by PI Sagar Ekoskar of Maina Curtorim police under the supervision of SDPO, Margao Serafino Dias.
GF women’s wing demand police
patrolling outside schools
PANAJI: Reacting strongly to the kidnapping of the school girl in Quepem, Goa Forward Women’s wing on Thursday demanded intensified patrolling outside schools.
“Safety, security, law and order has totally collapsed in the state. Government is solely responsible for increasing crime against women,” alleged Adv Ashma Sayyed of Goa Forward Women’s wing.
There should be police patrolling outside schools during school hours especially when school starts and ends. Night patrolling should also be intensified, she said, adding that 39 cases of rapes have been reported in the last six months which means one rape takes place every five days in this small state.
“Besides this, there are so many cases that are not reported,” she added, blaming the government of discouraging women from reporting heinious crime like rape.
Sayyed also demanded that streetlights be maintained properly. “Where are the CCTV cameras?” she asked questioning the poor functioning of the Women’s Commission and the ‘fast track courts’ that are ‘barely functioning the way they should’.
“If we don’t provide security to the women then what is the use of talking about women empowerment and celebrating women’s day,” she asked.
