GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
The five suspended policemen attached to the Cuncolim police station, including PSI Mahesh Velip have been vehement in their denial of the charges of brutality levelled against them by Betul youngster Clint Rebello, but an inquiry conducted by Sub-Divisional Police Officer, DySP Raju Raut Desai appears to have successfully nailed their lies.
Leave alone admitting their savage attack on the victim, the five policemen have been reportedly steadfast in their statements that Clint was not at all brought at the Assolna outpost, before a personnel of a 108 Ambulance reportedly spilled the beans to the inquiry officer late Tuesday night during the inquiry.
The Goan understands that the five policemen had gone into a denial mode before the inquiry officer, denying that they had assaulted Clint or had brought the victim to the Assolna police outpost. Inquiries revealed that the station diary at the police outpost was totally silent on the question of Clint being brought to the outpost between 4.30 pm and 10 pm. And, the constable manning the police outpost was also vehement in his denial that PSI Mahesh Velip and his team had brought any person to the police outpost on Sunday evening.
Given the situation, when the five policemen went into a denial mode, sources in the know say a clear picture emerged when the inquiry officer, DySP Raju Raut Desai along with the in-charge of Cuncolim police station, PI Sudesh Naik headed to the Assolna police outpost for a casual visit.
Sources said when the duo reached the Assolna police outpost, they came across a man around, later identifying himself as a driver of a 108 ambulance. When the inquiry officer questioned him on the Sunday incident, he is believed to have informed that he had come down to the outpost after he heard shouts downstairs, giving clear hints to the inquiry officer that the erring policemen were not speaking the truth and further prompting to unravel the mystery.
It was during the visit to the Assolna outpost, the inquiry officer also came across the weapon of assault, a leather belt, which was later identified by the victim Clint.
Clint had claimed that he was slapped and dragged into the police jeep at Betul, before being taken to the Assolna police outpost and brutally beaten up by the five policemen, including a policeman in plain clothes.
Did Clint really assault PSI Velip?
MARGAO: Why was Cuncolim PSI Mahesh Velip not subjected for medical examination if he was assaulted by the victim, Clint Rebello on Betul on Sunday?
This question did the rounds in many quarters since the last three days after the Cuncolim police registered a FIR against Clint under section 353 of the IPC. The same question, sources said, was reportedly posed by the inquiry officer to the investigating officer, who had registered the FIR against victim Clint Rebello based on a complaint received from PSI Mahesh Velip.
Caught on the wrong foot, sources in the know said the IO told the inquiry officer that PSI Mahesh Velip was not referred for medical examination as the complainant claimed that victim Clint had only caught hold of his collar and was never assaulted.
This assumes significance, more so when the Cuncolim police had rushed to register a FIR against Clint after the incident and went to the town with the news that the youth from Betul had assaulted the policemen, when it was Clint who was the victim of police brutality.
The disclosure during the inquiry into the police brutality further assumes significance with the victim and the citizens of Velim demanding the withdrawal of a “false case” registered against the youth.
