CANACONA
The son of a South Goa BJP politician has been arrested by Canacona police on charges of kidnap, assault and molestation of a girl from Canacona.
Canacona police told reporters that Pratik Naik (21), son of BJP South Goa District Vice-President Mahesh Naik, was arrested late Wednesday night after the girl filed a police complaint accusing Naik of going to her house and forcibly taking her on his motorbike, before attacking her with a weapon and threatened to kill her on Wednesday evening.
The accused has been arrested under Sections 509, 324, 365, 506(2), 354(d) of IPC and he was produced before the JMFC court at Canacona, before being remanded to two days in police custody.
According to Canacona police, Naik went to the girl's house and began to blow the horn repeatedly. The girl, who was alone in the house at the time, went to enquire about the matter, when he allegedly assaulted her and forcibly took her on his motorcycle to Cotigao, where he was accused of assaulting, abusing and molesting her.
The girl, who suffered a cut above her forehead and multiple bruises was later dropped home at night.
Shocked over the condition of their daughter on her arrival home, the parents took the girl to the Canacona police station, where she lodged a police complaint and she was later taken to the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC).
When asked, Canacona PSI Dhiraj Devidas, who is investigating the case under the supervision of Canacona PI Tulsidas Naik, told reporters that there has been no political pressure on the police in the case
“The accused has been remanded to police custody and as part of investigations, police is recording statements of the victim and witnesses.”
“Prima facie, there is no sexual assault, but since there was a threat to kill, a weapon was used in the assault and the victim was kidnapped and molested, three non-bailable sections of IPC have been applied and police is investigating the case,” said PSI Devidas.
Incidentally, the victim, who is a second year college student, got herself discharged from CHC Hospital late Wednesday night to enable her to answer her ongoing exams on Friday.
She was, however, admitted back in hospital after she fell ill and complained of uneasiness.
