Goa custodial death: Kamat turns down judicial probe plea
By IANSThursday, January 13, 2011
PANAJI - Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday turned down a judicial probe request by the kin of a 39-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) chef who allegedly died in police custody here Jan 8.
Speaking to reporters here, Kamat ruled out a judicial probe, but added that a gazetted officer would conduct the enquiry into the custodial death along with the superintendent of police.
Director general of police has told me that he has asked the SP to hold inquiry into the incident through a gazetted officer, Kamat said.
Kamat had called for a detailed enquiry report into the custodial death Wednesday, after the kin of the deceased NRI Cipriano Fernandes submitted a memorandum, in which they demanded a judicial probe and action against the guilty officers.
Cosme Fernandes, a cousin of Cipriano, and the latter’s lady friend have accused several police officers of beating him severely, first in a police jeep Jan 7 and in police custody the next day.
There should be a judicial probe into the custodial death of Cipriano. The police have been extremely callous in the manner. He was in the custody of the police for several hours during which he was beaten and not given any medical attention, said Cosme, who was backed by a local civic rights group.
He has also accused the police of stealing Cipriano’s credit cards and cash.
Cirpriano was working as a chef on board an ocean-liner, a popular vocation for several hundred seafaring Goans.
