Goa citizens demand cop’s suspension for assaulting women

PANAJI - Citizens groups in Goa Wednesday demanded the suspension of a police inspector, who had allegedly manhandled and assaulted a 55-year-old woman outside the chief minister’s cabin at the state secretariat Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Edwin Pinto, moderator of Village Groups of Goa (VGG) - an alliance of village-based activists - said that Inspector Devendra Gad should be immediately suspended for specifically targeting women activists who had come to the secretariat to meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

“Gad should be immediately suspended. The officer reached out for the women protesters and grabbed their chests, while trying to push them back,” Pinto said, adding that the activists had gone to meet Kamat as Monday is notified as an open day, when anyone with grievance can meet the chief minister.

Olinda Pereira had received injuries on her head and lay unconscious after being pushed by the policeman.

The Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW) has also ordered a probe against Gad in this connection.

GSCW chairperson Ezilda Sapeco Tuesday condemned the incident and had called Gad’s actions unbecoming of a police officer.

“I will convene a meeting of the committee members this week on this issue. I have already called for the television footage of the incident in the secretariat,” Sapeco said.