Seeks reports from govt and police authorities
PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Goa government and Goa Police after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding the death of Mapusa youth Samuel De Braganca and the subsequent public protests demanding justice.
The Commission Chairperson Justice Bharat Deshpande and Member Pramod Kamat has directed the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Home), Superintendent of Police (North Goa) and the Police Inspector of Mapusa Police Station to submit their reports and remain present, either personally or through authorised representatives, on June 17.
Taking note of newspaper reports, the Commission referred to details emerging from the postmortem findings.
“As per newspaper reports, the post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death was a fatal close-range gunshot wound to the head. It also reportedly revealed that the deceased had sustained a serious injury to his eye...probably caused due to alleged assault on him in the police station when he was detained for around seven hours,” the order read, quoting the newspapers.
The Commission observed that the matter raised serious concerns relating to the protection of human rights and the treatment of persons in a police station.
Stating that the matter is of serious concern and found in violation of human rights, as the suspect needs to be treated humanely while conducting an inquiry and more probably in the police station, the Commission decided to initiate suo motu proceedings.
The matter will come up for further hearing on June 17, when the Commission is expected to examine the responses filed by the government and police authorities.
Braganca, who was filmed by an unidentified youth/s for allegedly dumping garbage in an open space, received hate on social media after the viral video.
An FIR was registered. He was subsequently summoned to the Mapusa police station and quizzed for hours, after which he was found dead at his residence. The grieving family and locals have been demanding justice and action against all those who abetted his death.
