PANAJI
Vasco-based women's rights NGO Savera on Monday filed a police complaint against Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress president Pratima Coutinho accusing her of disclosing the identity of a minor molestation victim.
The Women's Police Station has not yet registered an FIR in the case.
"Coutinho has made pictures and details of the victim girl's family members public on social media," said Tara Kerkar of Savera.
PI Sudiksha Naik who is in-charge of the Women’s Police Station confirmed receiving Savera's complaint against Coutinho.
"We have received the complaint. We are conducting a preliminary inquiry after which we will decide whether to register an FIR or not,” Naik said.
Kerkar in her complaint, said Coutinho, while raising the issue went overboard by going to the victim's house, clicking photographs and uploading them and other details on Facebook.
A few days ago, Coutinho had raised the issue of molestation of a girl from a labour class family in Sanguem. She claims that since the incident occurred at a construction site belonging to a BJP leader, the police wanted to hush up the matter.
Coutinho had also visited the Women's Commission demanding justice for the victim.
--------------------------
GPMC chief denies allegations, claims harassment by police
Panaji: Goa Mahila Congress chief, Pratima Coutinho denied revealing the identity of the minor molestation victim from Netravali.
She said, Mahila Congress activists were being harassed after they had taken up the cause of the 17-year-old girl who had been molested at Netravali. She said, they had been called by the girl's parents and the Deputy Sarpanch on Sunday to help get justice.
"I have received 15 phone calls in four hours between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday from the North Goa and South Goa police besides the Crime Branch asking me why I had revealed the name of the victim," Pratima alleged.
She said she had spoken to the victim in private and denied making public her identity in any way.
The 17-year-old was allegedly molested by a worker from Jharkhand who operated earth-moving machinery (JCB), she said, alleging that the construction site where the crime happened belonged to a BJP bigwig and was thus being hushed up.
"The Home Department should take up the issue formally instead of making police officials call and harass us," Coutinho said.
