MARGAO
The South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA) condemned the assault by the police on Adv Gajanan Sawant and demanded that the investigation into the crime should be transferred to the CBI instead of the Crime Branch.
At an emergency meeting convened in the District Court Building at Margao, the South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA) also resolved to serve an ultimatum of 48 hours to the Police Department, to arrest the police personnel and other accused persons who were involved in the offence and also demanded for the suspension of the accused police officials.
Briefing the gathering, SGAA president, Adv Prasad Naik informed that Adv Gajanan Sawant was brutally assaulted by the accused police persons whilst he was discharging his duties towards his client. He informed that the police have thereafter belatedly registered the FIR for attempt to murder against the accused persons only after the lawyer community commenced their agitation.
Speaking on the occasion, Adv Radharao Gracias and Adv Clovis Da Costa condemned the police brutality and questioned as to why the accused persons were still not arrested even though they were charged with serious offence of attempt to murder.
Adv Pritam Morais condemned the alleged attempt made by the Porvorim police to hush the entire incident and force the complainant to compromise the matter at the police station itself without registering the offence. He demanded a probe in such serious allegation as it was the duty of the police to register the offence and not attempt to cover the crime.
