Anti-track doubling protesters question inordinate delay in completing probe
The social activists charged in the 2020 Chandor midnight agitation, including MP Viriato Fernandes, outside the Margao Civil and Criminal Court building.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The anti-track doubling activists, charged in the historic 2020 Chandor midnight agitation, have strongly objected to the plea made by the Goa Police seeking permission from the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Margao, to carry out further investigations in the case.
The Maina-Curtorim Police, which had charged the 10 social activists in the case, had, at the last hearing, moved an application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, seeking permission to carry out further investigations in the case and file the necessary report in court.
When the case came up for hearing before CJM Carlo Da Silva, five of the activists charged in the case filed their replies objecting to the police application for further investigations. In separate replies, the five activists questioned the police’s move, especially after the police sought further investigations more than four years after registering the offence on November 2, 2020. They also questioned the inordinate delay by the police in completing the investigations over the past four years.
The judge adjourned the matter to next month, as the remaining five accused have yet to file their replies to the police application.
South Goa MP, Captain Viriato Fernandes, who is one of the 10 activists charged by the police for forming an unlawful assembly at Chandor on the midnight of November 1-2, 2020, said it is ironic that those fighting to save Goa, its environment, and land are being targeted.
“Those who have sold Goa and destroyed the environment are moving freely, enjoying power. It is indeed an irony that the government, through the police machinery, is leaving no stone unturned to put behind bars people fighting to save Goa. We are not afraid of the case foisted by the government on the activists. We are even ready to go to jail for the sake of Goa,” he said.
The police plea
At the last hearing, Maina-Curtorim police requested the court's permission to conduct further investigations into the case. The police stated that the then Police Inspector, along with PIs and staff from other police stations, had reported for bandobast duty at the Chandor outpost. However, the station diary extracts of the deputed PIs and staff were inadvertently not collected during the investigation.
The police said that these extracts are crucial to verify the presence of the complainant and witnesses at the time of the crime. Additionally, the statements of the Salcete Joint Mamlatdars, who are key eyewitnesses, have yet to be recorded.
The police argued that allowing the application would not prejudice the accused, as the defence has not been disclosed.
