Magisterial probe ordered into jail-assault on Ravindra; discrepancies in Prisons report
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 29 March 2016 16:40 IST
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has finally ordered a magisterial inquiry into assault on mining activist Ravindra Velip in Sada sub-jail last week.
North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Naik has been told to conduct inquiry into the assault and submit a report within 21 days.
Arvind Khutkar, deputy director (Admin) of tourism belonging to ST community, will assist Naik in conducting the inquiry.
Velip from Caurem-Pirla village of Quepem taluka belongs to ST community.
He was blind folded and beaten up in the Sada sub-jail when five mining activists were remanded to judicial lock-up on the charges of stopping iron ore transport.
According to Parsekar, IG Prisons Elvis Gomes has also suggested an independent inquiry.
His report, based on an inquiry conducted by Sada jail superintendent, is full of discrepancies and contradictions, states the CM, but declines to reveal the details.
Parsekar however confirms that the report does not uphold the charge of Velip getting beaten up in the lock-up.
He also confirmed that CCTVs in the jail premises were not in working conditions, including the ones where the alleged assault took place near the toilet.
While social activists had demanded judicial probe, Parsekar had said he would decide about it after receiving the report he had ordered IG Prisons to submit.
Following this incident, the ore transport in Caurem is presently being put on hold due to tense environment in the village as well as the ongoing Defence Expo in the same taluka.
