Panaji: The Congress party in Goa on Monday demanded that a criminal case be filed against five policemen allegedly involved in the custodial assault of four persons, including a minor.
A Congress delegation comprising party spokespersons Amit Palekar and Samil Volvoikar, Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee President Archit Naik, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee President Pratiksha Khalap, and local leader Moreno Rebello met Director General of Police Alok Kumar on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Panaji.
Speaking to reporters, Palekar said the incident occurred at the Maina-Curtorim Police Station on June 6, when four persons, including a minor, were arrested following a clash between two groups.
Palekar pointed out that the police department has suspended five personnel, including two Police Sub-Inspectors — Sanket Naik and Gaurav Naik — and three constables — Chetan Koli, Samir Sudhir, and Pundalik Parit — holding them responsible for the incident.
The Congress leader said that during their meeting with the DGP, they demanded that criminal cases be filed against all five policemen, as one of the victims is a minor.
“Cases under the Goa Children’s Act and the POCSO Act should be filed against the accused policemen. There are allegations that they asked the victims to perform a sexual act while in police custody,” Palekar said.
Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee President Archit Naik said that the party would be forced to take matters into its own hands if police stations become unsafe places.
Director General of Police Alok Kumar was unavailable for comment on the issue despite several attempts to contact him.
